The impact of adjuvant atorvastatin therapy on community-acquired pneumonia outcome: a prospective study of clinical and inflammatory responses in relation to mortality reduction

Abstract

Abstract Introduction In treatment of pneumonia, new drugs besides antibiotics are investigated; especially statins with their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant effects. Objective The aim was to determine whether or not adjuvant atorvastatin could improve 30-day mortality, and clinical and inflammatory outcomes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Patients and methods This is a prospective study, in which 47 CAP patients were randomized into: statin naive, n=23 (received antibiotics according to guidelines) and statin users, n=24 (received antibiotics according to guidelines +atorvastatin 40mg daily for 30 days). Total leukocytic count and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured, pneumonia severity index was estimated on the first day and on the seventh day, and length of hospital stay and mortality were also recorded. Results Statin users showed statistically significant reduction of CRP (P=0.049) and significantly shorter hospital stay (P<0.001). No statistically significant difference on comparing both groups as regard the reduction magnitude of total leukocytic count (P=0.406), pneumonia severity index (P=0.325), and mortality (P=0.489). Conclusion Incorporating atorvastatin therapy with antibiotics compared to antibiotics alone in the treatment of CAP showed significantly lower CRP levels, shorter hospital stay, but no impact on mortality reduction.

Keywords

• atorvastatin
• inflammatory markers
• pneumonia