Effect of statin treatment on renal function and serum uric acid levels and their relation to vascular events in patients with coronary heart disease and metabolic syndrome: a subgroup analysis of the GREek Atorvastatin and Coronary heart disease Evaluation (GREACE) Study.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk for both vascular and chronic kidney disease. Whether statins ameliorate these risks is not established.

Methods: This post hoc analysis of the GREek Atorvastatin and Coronary heart disease (CHD). Evaluation (GREACE) examines the effect of statins on estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) and serum uric acid (SUA) levels and their relation to vascular events in CHD patients with MetS. MetS patients were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 365) received lifestyle advice, target-driven treatment with statins (mainly atorvastatin) and treatment for hypertension and elevated glucose. Group B (n = 347) received the same except for statins. Patients without MetS were divided into those who received treatment similar to Group A and Group B [Groups C (n = 504) and D (n = 384), respectively]. All patients were followed for 3 years.

Results: A total of 12.1% of patients in Group A experienced a vascular event vs 28% in Group B; risk ratio (RR) 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.20-0.64, P < 0.0001, while in those without MetS (Group C vs Group D), the respective RR was 0.59, 95% CI 0.41-0.79, P < 0.0001. In Group A, e-GFR increased by 13.7% and SUA levels fell by 8.9%, while in Group B e-GFR was reduced by 5.8% and SUA increased by 4.3% (P < 0.005). Stepwise regression analysis showed that these changes were independently related to vascular events.

Conclusion: Among CHD patients, those with MetS benefited more from statin treatment than those without MetS. This benefit could be partially attributed to favourable changes in e-GFR and SUA levels probably induced by statin treatment.