Karger Publishers, Gerontology, 4(68), p. 407-411, 2021
DOI: 10.1159/000516862
Full text: Unavailable
<b><i>Background:</i></b> Statins are progressively accepted as being associated with reduced mortality. However, few real-world statin studies have been conducted on statin use in older people and especially the most frail, that is, the nursing home residents. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of statin intake in nursing home residents on all-cause mortality. <b><i>Method:</i></b> This is a cross-sectional study of 1,094 older people residing in 6 nursing homes in Flanders (Belgium) between March 1, 2020 and May 30, 2020. We considered all residents who were taking statins for at least 5 days as statin users. All-cause mortality during the 3 months of data collection was the primary outcome. Propensity score overlap-weighted logistic regression models were applied with age, sex, functional status, diabetes, and cardiac failure/ischemia as potential confounders. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 185 out of 1,094 residents were on statin therapy (17%). The statin intake was associated with decreased all-cause mortality: 4% absolute risk reduction; adjusted odds ratio 0.50; CI 0.31–0.81, <i>p</i> = 0.005. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The statin intake was associated with decreased all-cause mortality in older people residing in nursing homes. More in-depth studies investigating the potential geroprotector effect of statins in this population are needed.