Statins should not be given to patients with heart failure

This study was published in the Lancet 2008 Oct 4;372(9645):1231-9

Study title and authors:

Effect of rosuvastatin in patients with chronic heart failure (the GISSI-HF trial): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Gissi-HF Investigators, Tavazzi L, Maggioni AP, Marchioli R, Barlera S, Franzosi MG, Latini R, Lucci D, Nicolosi GL, Porcu M, Tognoni G.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18757089?dopt=Abstract

The study investigated the effects of rosuvastatin in patients with heart failure. The study included 4,574 patients aged 18 years or older with chronic heart failure were assigned to either rosuvastatin 10 mg daily (2,285) or placebo (2,289) and followed up for 3.9 years.

The study found:
(a) Statin users had a 4% decreased risk of death from cardiovascular reasons compared to placebo.
(b) Statin users had a 12% increased risk of sudden cardiac death compared to placebo.
(c) Statin users had a 23% increased risk of fatal and non fatal stroke compared to placebo.
(d) Statin users had a 2.5% increased risk of death compared to placebo.

Tavazzi said: "In conclusion, results from the GISSI-HF trial might help physicians in taking the following decisions. First, not prescribing statins to patients with heart failure of non-ischaemic cause. Second, stopping statins in patients with heart failure of ischaemic cause".