Abstract 11717: Statin Therapy Improves Survival in Patients With Severe Pulmonary Hypertension: A Propensity Score Matching Study

Background: Efficacy of statins in improving pulmonary hypertension (PH) and reversing right ventricular hypertrophy has been demonstrated in animal models. They were also shown to reduce pulmonary arterial pressure and improve biomarkers in humans. However, clinical relevance and survival benefit of these findings in patients with PH are unknown. Methods: From January 2002 to August 2012, transthoracic echocardiograms from 3 hospitals of Montefiore Medical Center were reviewed; all consecutive patients with age ≥18 years, severe PH (pulmonary artery systolic pressure ≥60 mmHg) and preserved left ventricular function (ejection fraction ≥50%) were included. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether or not they were on a statin for 12 consecutive months after diagnosis of PH. Propensity score matching including all baseline demographics, comorbidities, labs, lipid profile, and medications with ratio matching of 1 (treated) to 5 (untreated controls) was performed to adjust for differences in bas...