Relation of Intensity of Statin Therapy and Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Statin therapy is associated with improved survival in patients at high risk for cardiovascular mortality, but the impact of statin therapy among patients treated with trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is unknown. We reviewed 294 consecutive cases of TAVR performed at a single tertiary care medical center. We defined high intensity statin therapy as atorvastatin 40-80 mg/day or rosuvastatin 20-40 mg/day. Study outcomes included post-TAVR adverse events, 30-day mortality, and overall survival. At the time of TAVR, 14% (n=41) were on high intensity statin therapy, 59% (n=173) on low or moderate intensity statin therapy, and 27% (n=80) were not on statin therapy. There was no association between statin therapy and the rate of post-TAVR stroke, myocardial infarction, acute kidney injury, in-hospital mortality, or 30-day mortality. At 2 years, 83% of patients in the high intensity statin group were alive, 70% in the low/moderate intensity statin group were alive, and 57% in the no statin group were alive (log-rank P = 0.016). In a risk-adjusted model, high intensity statin therapy was associated with a 64% reduction in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 0.36, 95% confidence interval 0.14 – 0.90, P=0.029) when compared to no statin therapy. In conclusion, statin therapy is associated with improved overall survival after TAVR in a dose dependent manner.