Effects of Statins on Chronic Heart Failure Patients With Central Sleep Apnea

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of statins on patients with chronic heart failure combined with central spleep apnea.

Methods: A total of 120 chronic cardiac failure inpatients and outpatients who were confirmed to have apnea hyponea index (AHI) ≥5 times/h by polysomnogram (PSG) in the Department of Cardiology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2013 to January 2015 were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into lipophicity statin group (n=60) and hydrophily statin group (n=60) by random number table method. Patients of lipophilic statin group were given atorvastatin 20 mg, while hydrophilic statin group were given rosuvastatin 10 mg. The drugs were given orally once per day before sleep for 6 months consecutively. Patients’ general condition was collected; blood lipid, liver function, renal function, hs-CRP and NT-proBNP were detected; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) were measured by ultrasonic cardiogram; AHI and the times of awakening were monitored by PSG.

Results: Before treatment, the two groups were not significantly different in TG, TC, LDL-C, ALT, AST, Scr, hs-CRP, NT-proBNP level, LVEF, LVEDD, AHI and the times of awakening (P＞0.05); after treatment, hydrophilic statin group was lower than lipophilic statin group in TG and TC level (P＜0.05), and higher than lipophilic statin group in AHI and the times of awakening (P＜0.05); the two groups were not significantly different in the levels of LDL-C, ALT, AST, Scr, hs-CRP and NT-proBNP, LVEF and LVEDD (P＞0.05). After treatment, the two groups had lower levels of TG, TC, LDL-C, hs-CRP and NT-proBNP, LVEDD, AHI and the times of awakening, and higher LVEF than before treatment (P＜0.05); the levels of ALT, AST and Scr of the two groups were not significantly different between before treatment and after treatment (P＞0.05).

Conclusion: Statins can improve blood lipid level, cardiac function index and sleep breathing indicators of patients with chronic heart failure combined with central spleep apnea. Hydrophilic statins are superior to lipophilic statins in lowering blood lipid level, while lipophilic statins are superior to hydrophilic statins in improving sleep breathing indicators.