Effects of statins on serum inflammatory markers: the U.S. national health and nutrition examination survey 1999-2004

Aim: to evaluate the effects of hmg-coa reductase inhibitor (statin) treatment on serum inflammatory markers using data from the national health and nutrition examination survey (nhanes 1999-2004). methods and results: a total of 9,128 individuals aged 40 and older participated in the nhanes. the inflammatory markers studied were white blood cell counts (wbc),high sensitivity c-reactive protein (crp) and ferritin. other covariables were: age,gender,race/ethnicity,body mass index,prescription or nonprescription medication use within the previous 30 days (statins,anti-inflammatory drugs,antibiotics). four analytic groups for drug use were defined: statin users; ai/antibiotic users (use of either anti-inflammatory or antibiotic drugs); combination group (use of both statins and anti-inflammatory or antibiotic drugs),and a non-use group (taking none of the listed drugs). the mean crp level was significantly lower in the statin use group than the non-use group (0.3 mg/dl,95%ci: 0.3-0.3 and 0.4 mg/dl,95%ci: 0.4-0.5). in multivariable regression modeling,the statin use group had significantly lower predicted mean wbc (beta coeff: -0.2,p<0.05) and crp (beta coeff: -0.1,p<0.01) values than the non-use group. conclusions: treatment with statins was significantly associated with decreased wbc and crp levels in this large population-based sample.