Statin Use and Survival After Acute Kidney Injury

The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized patients is rising, and survivors are at high risk for cardiovascular events and mortality. Effective strategies that improve long-term outcomes of AKI are unknown.

A retrospective cohort study was performed between 2008 and 2011. All subjects were followed until 31 March 2013, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Participants were adults 18 years of age or older, who developed AKI during a hospitalization and had chronic kidney disease (CKD) following discharge (n = 19,707 mean age 69.9 years, mean postdischarge estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 43.0 ml/min/1.73 m²). Exposure to statins was examined prior to the index hospitalization as well as within 2 years following hospital discharge. The primary outcome was mortality; secondary outcomes included all-cause re-hospitalization and cardiovascular events.

Within 2 years of discharge, only 38.3% of the participants were prescribed a statin. After adjustment for comorbidities, statin use prior to admission, demographics, baseline kidney function, and a number of other factors, statin use was associated with lower mortality (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.69, 0.79) in AKI survivors with CKD. Patients who received a statin also had a lower risk of all cause rehospitalization (adjusted hazarad ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.85, 0.94). Statin use was not associated with a reduction in cardiovascular events.

Among AKI survivors with CKD, statin use was associated with a lower risk of mortality and rehospitalization rates. This finding suggests that there is an opportunity to improve postdischarge care in AKI survivors.