Skip to main content
Journal of Clinical Medicine logoLink to Journal of Clinical Medicine
. 2018 Dec 25;8(1):25. doi: 10.3390/jcm8010025

Preadmission Statin Therapy Is Associated with a Lower Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury in Critically Ill Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study

Tak Kyu Oh 1,*, In-Ae Song 1, Young-Jae Cho 2, Cheong Lim 3, Young-Tae Jeon 1, Hee-Joon Bae 4, You Hwan Jo 5
PMCID: PMC6351906  PMID: 30585236

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the association between preadmission statin use and acute kidney injury (AKI) incidence among critically ill patients who needed admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) for medical care. Medical records of patients admitted to the ICU were reviewed. Patients who continuously took statin for >1 month prior to ICU admission were defined as statin users. We investigated whether preadmission statin use was associated with AKI incidence within 72 h after ICU admission and whether the association differs according to preadmission estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; in mL min−1 1.73 m−2). Among 21,236 patients examined, 5756 (27.1%) were preadmission statin users and 15,480 (72.9%) were non-statin users. Total AKI incidence within 72 h after ICU admission was 31% lower in preadmission statin users than in non-statin users [odds ratio (OR), 0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.61–0.79; p < 0.001]. This association was insignificant among individuals with eGFR <30 mL min−1 1.73 m−2 (p > 0.05). Our results suggested that preadmission statin therapy is associated with a lower incidence of AKI among critically ill patients; however, this effect might not be applicable for patients with eGFR <30 mL min−1 1.73 m−2.

Keywords: acute kidney injury, statins, chronic kidney disease

1. Introduction

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is defined as a rapid worsening of renal functions [1] and affects 2–18% of inpatients and 57% of critical care patients [2,3,4]. AKI in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is an important issue because it delays recovery and increases hospital mortality [5]. Thus, appropriately preventing AKI in the ICU is currently an important task in ICU patient management [6].

Statin, known as a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A inhibitor, is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs worldwide [7] that lowers the risk of cardiovascular death by reducing the serum cholesterol level [8]. Furthermore, statin has anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and immunomodulating effects [9,10], also known as “pleiotropic effects” [11]. These pleiotropic effects are reported to lower the incidence of surgery-related [12,13], contrast-induced [14], and sepsis-related AKI [15]. However, some study findings show that statin failed to improve the outcomes of kidney disease, and the debate regarding the relationship between statin use and AKI is ongoing [16]. Thus, further studies are needed to substantiate the inhibitory effects of statin on AKI. Additionally, considering that statin therapy may be discontinued for many patients based on their states after ICU admission, it is important to clarify the association between preadmission statin use and AKI incidence after ICU admission.

This study aimed to investigate the association between preadmission statin use and AKI incidence after ICU admission in the general adult population. Additionally, we examined whether this association differs with respect to pre-ICU kidney function.

2. Materials and Method

This retrospective observational study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (IRB approval number: B-1806/474-105). Because of the retrospective nature of the study, the IRB waived the need to obtain informed consent from the patients. All data for the study were collected by a medical records technician who was blinded to the purpose of this study.

2.1. Patients

The medical records of adult patients aged ≥18 years who were admitted to the ICU between January 2012 and December 2017 were analyzed. When a patient was admitted to the ICU more than once during the study period, only data from the last ICU admission case, which might be the most severe, were included in the analysis. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (1) patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; in mL min−1 1.73 m−2) of <15 or those with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who were undergoing renal replacement therapy (RRT) prior to admission because they usually received RRT after ICU admission regardless of AKI development; (2) patients lacking information on baseline creatinine or creatinine level within 72 h after ICU admission; and (3) patients diagnosed with AKI prior to ICU admission.

2.2. Preadmission Statin Use (Main Independent Variables)

Preadmission statin users were defined as patients who confirmed taking statins as maintenance treatment as prescribed by their physicians at least one month before ICU admission. The other cases were classified as non-statin users. Statin was classified as atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, pitavastatin, and other statins (pravastatin, fluvastatin, and lovastatin).

2.3. Measurements (Covariates)

Demographic information (sex, age, and body mass index) of the patients and comorbidities at ICU admission, including Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score and eGFR, total serum cholesterol at ICU admission (mg dL−1), and data regarding admission to the emergency department and other departments (internal medicine, neurologic center, cardiothoracic surgical department, and other surgical departments) were collected. Pre-ICU admission eGFR was computed using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula [17]: eGFR (mL min−1 1.73 m−2) = 186 × (creatinine level)−1.154 × (age)−0.203 × (0.742 if female). Using the cut-off points of total cholesterol as 160 and 200 mg/dL, which are known to be clinically meaningful, the subjects were divided into three groups (<160, 160–199, and ≥200) [18,19].

2.4. Diagnosis of AKI (Dependent Variable)

AKI was diagnosed based on the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria and grading (Appendix A) [20]. Considering the varying lengths of urinary catheters used across patients, only serum creatinine (mg dL−1) was used for diagnosing AKI. Serum creatinine level measured at least within a month prior to ICU admission was defined as baseline creatinine, and AKI was diagnosed using serum creatinine levels measured within 72 h after ICU admission.

2.5. Outcomes

This study investigated how preadmission statin use is associated with the incidence of total AKI and stage ≥2 AKI after ICU admission. Additionally, we examined how this association differs according to preadmission eGFR.

2.6. Statistical Analysis

The baseline characteristics of the patients were presented as means with standard deviation or numbers with percentage. To compare preadmission statin users and non-statin users, continuous variables were tested using the two-sample t-test, while categorical variables were tested using the chi-square test. First, the individual association between each covariate and total AKI was examined with univariable logistic regression analysis. The covariates with p < 0.1 in the univariable logistic regression model were selected for adjustment in the final multivariable logistic regression analysis. Considering that baseline kidney function is a risk factor of AKI [21], we investigated the interaction between eGFR before ICU admission and preadmission statin use, and when there was an interaction, we performed a subgroup analysis by dividing the participants according to eGFR (≥90, 60–90, 30–60, and <30 mL min−1 1.73 m−2). In the subgroup analysis, the Bonferroni correction was used to prevent type I errors that resulted from multiple comparisons [22]. The same method was used for analyzing stage ≥2 AKI as the dependent variable. All analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 24.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

3. Results

A total of 30,398 patients were admitted to the ICU 40,533 times between January 2012 and December 2017. These 30,398 patients were selected after excluding 10,135 cases involving the same patient being admitted to the ICU more than once. Next, we excluded 5440 patients aged <18 years, 47 ESRD patients who were undergoing RRT prior to ICU admission, 970 patients without baseline creatinine data, 2170 patients whose creatinine level was not measured within 72 h after ICU admission, and 535 patients who were diagnosed with AKI prior to ICU admission. As a result, 21,236 patients were included in the analysis, of whom 5756 (27.1%) were preadmission statin users and 15,480 (72.9%) were non-statin users (Figure 1). Their baseline characteristics are presented in Table 1. A total of 5469 (25.8%) patients developed AKI within 72 h after ICU admission, and 2216 (10.4%) of them had stage ≥2 AKI. Another 488 (2.3%) patients began postoperative RRT within 72 h after ICU admission.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Flowchart of patient selection. ICU, Intensive Care Units; ESRD, End Stage Renal Disease; AKI, Acute Kidney Injury.

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of adults patients who were admitted to ICU in 2012–2017.

Variable Total (21,236) Mean SD
Sex: male 12,434 (58.6%)
Age, year 64.0 15.8
Body mass index, kg m−2 23.7 3.9
APACHE II 20.0 10.0
Comorbidities at ICU admission
eGFR a ≥ 90 12,993 (61.2%)
60 ≤ eGFR a < 90 4527 (21.3%)
30 ≤ eGFR a < 60 2364 (11.1%)
eGFR a < 30 1352 (6.4%)
Hypertension 9346 (44.0%)
Diabetes mellitus 1969 (9.3%)
Ischemic heart disease 538 (2.5%)
Cerebrovascular disease 945 (4.4%)
Chronic obstructive lung disease 921 (4.3%)
Liver disease (LC, hepatitis, fatty liver) 683 (3.2%)
Anemia (Hb < 10 g dL−1) 7569 (35.6%)
Cancer 4308 (20.3%)
Characteristics of ICU admission
Admission through emergency department 12,042 (56.7%)
Admission department
Internal medicine 4671 (22.0%)
Neurologic center 4975 (23.4%)
Cardiothoracic surgical department 6875 (32.4%)
Other surgical department 4715 (22.2%)
Length of ICU stay, day 3.1 10.0
Length of hospital stay, day 12.9 20.1
Preadmission statin use 5756 (27.1%)
Total serum cholesterol at ICU adm, mg dL−1 138.2 47.9
<160, mg dL−1 8584 (40.4%)
160–200 mg dL−1 10,751 (50.6%)
>200 mg dL−1 1901 (9.0%)
Type of statin
Atorvastatin 3456 (16.3%)
Rosuvastatin 1391 (6.6%)
Simvastatin 396 (1.9%)
Pitavastatin 346 (1.6%)
Other statin b 167 (0.8%)
Total acute kidney injury 5469 (25.8%)
Acute kidney injury stage ≥2 2216 (10.4%)
RRT after ICU adm within 72 h 488 (2.3%)

Presented as Number (percentage) or Mean value (standard deviation): a: eGFR (mL min −1 1.73 m−2): 186 × (Creatinine)−1.154 × (Age)−0.203 × (0.742 if female); b: Other statin: Pravastatin, Fluvastatin, and Lovastatin; ICU, intensive care unit; APACHE, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; LC, liver cirrhosis; Hb, hemoglobin; RRT, renal replacement therapy.

3.1. Preadmission Statin Use and AKI Incidence

Table 2 shows the differences in characteristics between statin and non-statin users. The incidence of total AKI and stage ≥2 AKI among statin users was 1301/5756 (22.6%) and 439/5756 (7.6%), respectively, which was significantly lower than that in non-statin users [4168/15,480 (26.9%) and 1777/15,480 (11.5%), respectively] (p < 0.001). Table 3 shows the results of the multivariable logistic analysis after adjusting for the covariates selected in the univariate logistic regression analysis for total AKI incidence (Appendix B). AKI incidence within 72 h after ICU admission was 31% lower in preadmission statin users than in non-statin users [odds ratio (OR), 0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.61–0.79; p < 0.001]. Additionally, AKI incidence was 1.63-fold higher in patients with total cholesterol <160 mg dL−1 (OR: 1.63, 95% CI, 1.45–1.83; p < 0.001) than in those with total cholesterol of 160–200 mg dL−1 at ICU admission. There was no significant difference in patients with total cholesterol >200 mg dL−1 (p = 0.111).

Table 2.

Comparison of characteristics between preadmission statin user and non-statin user.

Variables Statin Group
n = 5756
Non-Statin Group
n = 15,480
p-Value
Sex: male 3398 (59.0%) 9036 (58.4%) 0.384
Age, year 68.6 (12.0) 62.2 (16.6) <0.001
Body Mass Index, kg m−2 24.6 (3.8) 23.3 (3.8) <0.001
Comorbidities at ICU admission
APACHE II 19.8 (9.8) 20.2 (10.1) 0.012
eGFR a <0.001
≥90 3073 (53.4%) 9920 (64.1%)
60–90 1488 (25.9%) 3039 (19.6%)
30–60 764 (13.3%) 1.600 (10.3%)
<30 431 (7.5%) 921 (5.9%)
Hypertension 3672 (63.8%) 5674 (36.7%) <0.001
Diabetes mellitus 830 (14.4%) 1139 (7.4%) <0.001
Ischemic heart disease 314 (5.5%) 224 (1.4%) <0.001
Cerebrovascular disease 505 (8.8%) 440 (2.8%) <0.001
Chronic obstructive lung disease 229 (4.0%) 692 (4.5%) 0118
Liver disease (LC, hepatitis, fatty liver) 87 (1.5%) 596 (3.9%) <0.001
Anemia (Hb < 10 g dL−1) 1774 (30.8%) 5795 (37.4%) <0.001
Cancer 875 (15.22%) 3433 (22.2%) <0.001
Admission through ED 2640 (45.9%) 9402 (60.7%) <0.001
Admission department <0.001
Internal medicine 1317 (22.9%) 3354 (21.7%)
Neurologic center 1252 (21.8%) 3723 (24.1%)
Cardiothoracic surgical department 2166 (37.6%) 4709 (30.4%)
Other surgical department 1021 (17.7%) 3694 (23.9%)
Total serum cholesterol at ICU adm, mg dL−1 125.2 (37.6) 143.1 (50.4) <0.001
Length of hospital stay, day 11.3 (22.5) 13.5 (19.0) <0.001
Length of ICU stay, day 2.5 (15.3) 3.3 (7.2) <0.001
Total acute kidney injury 1301 (22.6%) 4168 (26.9%) <0.001
Acute kidney injury stage ≥2 439 (7.6%) 1777 (11.5%) <0.001
RRT after ICU adm within 72 h 140 (2.4%) 348 (2.2%) 0.426

Presented as number (percentage) or mean value (standard deviation). Two sample t-test for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables were used: a: eGFR (mL min −1 1.73 m−2): 186 × (Creatinine)−1.154 × (Age)−0.203 × (0.742 if female); ICU, intensive care unit; APACHE, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; LC, liver cirrhosis; Hb, hemoglobin; ED, emergency department; RRT, renal replacement therapy.

Table 3.

Multivariable logistic regression analysis for occurrence of acute kidney injury during 72 h after ICU admission.

Variable Multivariable Model
Odds Ratio (95% CI) p-Value
Dependent Variable: Total AKI
Model 1: Preadmission statin use 0.69 (0.61, 0.79) <0.001
Total serum cholesterol at ICU adm
 160–200 mg dL−1 1 <0.001
 <160, mg dL−1 1.63 (1.45, 1.83) <0.001
 >200 mg dL−1 0.86 (0.72, 1.04) 0.111
Interaction: eGFR a ≥ 90 × Non-statin use 1 0.001
 60 ≤ eGFR a < 90 × Statin use 1.19 (0.95, 1.49) 0.132
 30 ≤ eGFR a < 60 × Statin use 0.97 (0.74, 1.26) 0.801
 eGFR a < 30 × Statin use 1.89 (1.35, 2.65) <0.001
Dependent Variable: Stage ≥2 AKI
Model 3: Preadmission statin use 0.69 (0.57, 0.84) <0.001
Total serum cholesterol at ICU adm
 160–200 mg dL−1 1 <0.001
 <160 mg dL−1 1.66 (1.38, 1.99) <0.001
 >200 mg dL−1 0.85 (0.63, 1.15) 0.295
Interaction: eGFR a ≥ 90 × Non-statin use 1
 60 ≤ eGFR a < 90 × Statin use 0.95 (0.64, 1.40) 0.788
 30 ≤ eGFR a < 90 × Statin use 1.04 (0.67, 1.61) 0.856
 eGFR a < 30 × Statin use 1.27 (0.85, 1.91) 0.242

All covariates of p < 0.1 in univariable logistic regression analysis were included in multivariable logistic regression analysis. a: eGFR (mL min −1 1.73 m−2): 186 × (Creatinine)−1.154 × (Age)−0.203 × (0.742 if female) ICU, intensive care unit; AKI, acute kidney injury; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate.

An interaction occurred between eGFR before ICU admission and total AKI after ICU admission with respect to preadmission statin use (overall p = 0.001, in Table 3; model 1); thus, additional subgroup analysis was performed (Table 4). When the patients were divided according to eGFR at ICU admission, total AKI incidence within 72 h after ICU admission was 28% lower among statin users with eGFR ≥90 mL min −1 1.73 m−2 (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.63–0.82; p < 0.001), 26% lower among statin users with 60 ≤ eGFR <90 mL min −1 1.73 m−2 (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61–0.91; p = 0.004), and 35% lower among statin users with 30 ≤ eGFR <60 mL min −1 1.73 m−2 (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.51–0.83; p = 0.001) than among non-statin users. Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in total AKI incidence between groups with eGFR <30 mL min −1 1.73 m−2 (p = 0.095).

Table 4.

Multivariable logistic regression analysis for occurrence of acute kidney injury during 72 h after ICU admission according to eGFR at ICU admission.

Variable Multivariable Model
Odds Ratio (95% CI) p-Value *
eGFR a ≥ 90 (n = 12,993)
Preadmission statin use 0.72 (0.63, 0.82) <0.001
60 ≤ eGFR a < 90 (n = 4527)
Preadmission statin use 0.74 (0.61, 0.91) 0.004
30 ≤ eGFR a < 60 (n = 2364)
Preadmission statin use 0.65 (0.51, 0.83) 0.001
eGFR a < 30 (n = 1340)
Preadmission statin use 1.33 (0.95, 1.86) 0.095

p * < 0.013 was considered as statistical significance after Bonferroni correction. a: eGFR (mL min −1 1.73 m−2): 186 × (Creatinine)−1.154 × (Age)−0.203 × (0.742 if female). ICU, intensive care unit; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate.

3.2. Preadmission Statin Use and Stage ≥2 AKI Incidence

Table 3 also shows the results of the multivariable logistic regression analysis for stage ≥2 AKI incidence, including the covariates selected in the univariable logistic regression analysis (Appendix C). Stage ≥2 AKI incidence within 72 h after ICU admission was 31% lower among preadmission statin users than among non-statin users (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.57–0.84; p < 0.001; model 3). Additionally, stage ≥2 AKI incidence was 1.66-fold higher in patients with total cholesterol <160 mg dL−1 (OR: 1.66, 95% CI, 1.38–1.99; p < 0.001) than in those with total cholesterol of 160–200 mg dL−1 at ICU admission. There was no significant difference in patients with total cholesterol >200 mg dL−1 (p = 0.295). Moreover, no interaction occurred between eGFR at ICU admission and stage ≥2 AKI with resto preadmission statin use (overall p = 0.788).

4. Discussion

This study showed that preadmission statin use is associated with a lower incidence of AKI after ICU admission. This association was also evident with stage ≥2 AKI. However, the association was not significant among patients with severe kidney dysfunction (eGFR <30 mL min−1 1.73 m−2) prior to ICU admission. Although the study results were derived from a retrospective observational study, it is striking because the statin group was comprised of significantly older and sicker patients and had a higher proportion of patients with renal dysfunction, more diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Therefore, the study results suggested that clinicians who did not favor statin would consider prescribing statins to patients with respect to preventive effects for the development of AKI in critically ill patients.

The most interesting finding of this study was that an interaction occurred between eGFR at ICU admission and total AKI incidence with respect to preadmission statin use. In subsequent analyses, the potential benefit of preadmission statin use on AKI was not significant among patients with stage ≥4 chronic kidney disease (CKD). A meta-analysis, published in 2015, reported that statin therapy does not improve the overall kidney function of CKD patients with eGFR <60 mL min−1 1.73 m−2 and that high-dose statin therapy leads to limited improvement in kidney function [23]. Another meta-analysis, published in 2017, concluded that statin therapy was not beneficial in reducing major cardiovascular events, cardiovascular death, and all-cause mortality of patients with CKD 4 or 5 (eGFR <30 mL min−1 1.73 m−2) [24]. Although the primary endpoints were different from those used in our study, the previous meta-analysis suggested that statin therapy did not improve outcomes of patients with severe kidney dysfunction (CKD stage ≥4), which is consistent with our study finding. Patients with stage ≥4 CKD have worse baseline renovascular function than patients with normal kidney function and thus are more susceptible to ischemic oxidative damage, which is a major mechanism of AKI [25]. Furthermore, it was possible that treating patients with CKD stage ≥4 would be ineffective and the course of AKI could no longer be affected. However, it is difficult to completely explain the renal outcomes according to CKD stage solely based on this cohort study; hence, additional studies are needed.

This study suggested that preadmission statin therapy causes immunomodulatory effects, which were explained based on the pleiotropic effect of statin therapy [26]. We defined preadmission statin users as patients who confirmed taking statins as maintenance treatment as prescribed by their physicians at least one month before ICU admission. Most preadmission statin users received statin therapy for a long time, and there was some evidence that showed a clinical benefit of long-term statin therapy in patients with septic shock [27], pneumonia [28], or acute respiratory distress syndrome [29]. Although the immunomodulatory effect of statin therapy on critically ill patients remains controversial [30,31], it might affect the study results.

There is another important finding that should be carefully interpreted. The total incidence of AKI was higher in patients with <160 mg dL−1 of total serum cholesterol than in those with 160–200 mg dL−1 of total serum cholesterol, while patients with >200 mg dL−1 of total serum cholesterol had no association with the incidence of total AKI. In general, hyperlipidemia is an associated factor for renal damage [32]; however, hyperlipidemia was not associated with a lower incidence of AKI in this study. This can be explained based on the characteristics of ICU patients in this study. Lower cholesterol is a known factor that negatively affects the outcomes of critically ill patients [33,34], which is also coincident with our current study. Therefore, the effect of total serum cholesterol level on the incidence of AKI might be influenced by the characteristics of critically ill patients.

This study has a few limitations. First, a selection bias may have occurred due to the retrospective observational nature of the study. Second, the findings have limited generalizability because the study was conducted in a single center. For example, as previously mentioned, ethnical differences may have been involved in the effects of rosuvastatin. Lastly, because the duration of preadmission statin use differed among patients, we could not consider it in the analysis.

5. Conclusions

This study showed that preadmission statin use is associated with a lower incidence of total AKI and stage ≥ 2 AKI among critically ill patients after ICU admission. This association was most significantly evident among rosuvastatin users, but was absent among CKD patients with eGFR <30 mL min−1 1.73 m−2.

Appendix A. Staging of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury (KDIGO)

Stage Serum Creatinine
1 1.5–1.9 times baseline or ≥0.3 mg dL−1 increase within 72 h after ICU admission
2 2.0–2.9 times baseline within 72 h after ICU admission
3 3.0 times baseline or increase in serum creatinine to ≥4.0 mg dL−1 or initiation of RRT within 72 h after ICU admission

KDIGO, Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes; RRT, Renal Replacement Therapy.

Appendix B. Univariable Logistic Regression Analysis of Covariates for Occurrence of Total Acute Kidney Injury during 72 h after ICU Admission

Variables Odds Ratio (95% CI) p-Value
 Sex: male 1.06 (1.00–1.13) 0.066
 Age, year 1.02 (1.02–1.02) <0.001
 Body mass index, kg m−2 0.96 (0.95–0.97) <0.001
 APACHE II 1.04 (1.04–1.04) <0.001
Comorbidities at ICU admission
Hypertension 1.26 (1.18–1.34) <0.001
Diabetes mellitus 1.46 (1.32–1.61) <0.001
Ischemic heart disease 1.17 (0.97–1.42) 0.101
Cerebrovascular disease 1.31 (1.14–1.51) <0.001
Chronic obstructive lung disease 1.13 (0.97–1.31) 0.109
Liver disease (LC, hepatitis, fatty liver) 2.48 (2.13–2.89) <0.001
Anemia (Hb < 10 g dL−1) 3.82 (3.58–4.07) <0.001
Cancer 1.90 (1.77–2.05) <0.001
eGFR mL min−1 1.73 m−2
≥90 1 <0.001
60–90 0.99 (0.91–1.07) 0.731
30–60 2.08 (1.89–2.28) <0.001
<30 5.18 (4.61–5.82) <0.001
Admission through emergency department 1.52 (1.43–1.62) <0.001
Total serum cholesterol at ICU adm
 160–200 mg dL−1 1 <0.001
 <160, mg dL−1 2.21 (2.01, 2.43) <0.001
 >200 mg dL−1 0.81 (0.69, 0.94) <0.001
Admission department
Internal medicine 1 <0.001
Neurologic center 0.25 (0.23–0.28) <0.001
Cardiothoracic surgical department 0.78 (0.72–0.84) <0.001
Other surgical department 0.83 (0.76–0.90) <0.001
Year at ICU admission
2012 1 <0.001
2013 1.31 (1.16–1.48) <0.001
2014 1.26 (1.12–1.42) <0.001
2015 1.09 (0.97–1.23) 0.150
2016 1.02 (0.91–1.15) 0.690
2017 0.96 (0.86–1.08) 0.535

All covariates of p < 0.1 in univariable logistic regression analysis were included in multivariable logistic regression analysis; ICU, intensive care unit; AKI, acute kidney injury; APACHE, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation; LC, liver cirrhosis; Hb, hemoglobin.

Appendix C. Univariable Logistic Regression Analysis of Covariates for Occurrence of Stage ≥ 2 AKI Acute Kidney Injury during 72 h after ICU Admission

Variables Odds Ratio (95% CI) p-Value
 Sex: male 1.04 (0.95–1.13) 0.452
 Age, year 1.01 (1.01–1.02) <0.001
 Body mass index, kg m−2 0.94 (0.92–0.95) <0.001
 APACHE II 1.04 (1.04–1.04) <0.001
 Comorbidities at ICU admission
Hypertension 1.08 (0.99–1.18) 0.106
Diabetes mellitus 1.25 (1.09–1.44) 0.002
Ischemic heart disease 0.94 (0.70–1.25) 0.654
Cerebrovascular disease 1.03 (0.83–1.27) 0.795
Chronic obstructive lung disease 0.97 (0.78–1.21) 0.816
Liver disease (LC, hepatitis, fatty liver) 3.26 (2.73–3.88) <0.001
Anemia (Hb < 10 g dL−1) 4.86 (4.42–5.35) <0.001
Cancer 2.23 (2.03–2.46) <0.001
eGFR mL min−1 1.73 m−2
≥90 1 <0.001
60–90 0.73 (0.64–0.82) <0.001
30–60 1.10 (0.96–1.27) 0.171
<30 2.84 (2.47–3.26) <0.001
Admission through emergency department 2.00 (1.82–2.21) <0.001
Total serum cholesterol at ICU adm
 160–200 mg dL−1 1
 <160, mg dL−1 2.34 (2.02, 2.70) <0.001
 >200 mg dL−1 0.81 (0.64, 1.04) 0.095
Admission department
Internal medicine 1 <0.001
Neurologic center 0.20 (0.17–0.24) <0.001
Cardiothoracic surgical department 0.52 (0.46–0.58) <0.001
Other surgical department 0.67 (0.60–0.75) <0.001
Year at ICU admission
2012 1 <0.001
2013 1.52 (1.27–1.80) <0.001
2014 1.38 (1.16–1.63) <0.001
2015 1.19 (1.00–1.41) 0.053
2016 1.05 (0.88–1.24) 0.605
2017 1.00 (0.84–1.19) 0.999

All covariates of p < 0.1 in univariable logistic regression analysis were included in multivariable logistic regression analysis. ICU, intensive care unit; APACHE, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; LC, liver cirrhosis; Hb, hemoglobin; RRT, renal replacement therapy.

Author Contributions

T.K.O. contributed to the study design, analyzed the data, and drafted the first manuscript; I.-A.S., Y.-J.C., C.L., Y.-T.J., H.-J.B., and Y.H.J. contributed to the acquisition of data and provided critical revision of the manuscript; All authors have given final approval for the final version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  • 1.Waikar S.S., Bonventre J.V. Creatinine kinetics and the definition of acute kidney injury. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 2009;20:672–679. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2008070669. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Bellomo R., Kellum J.A., Ronco C. Acute kidney injury. Lancet. 2012;380:756–766. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61454-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Lewington A.J., Cerda J., Mehta R.L. Raising awareness of acute kidney injury: A global perspective of a silent killer. Kidney Int. 2013;84:457–467. doi: 10.1038/ki.2013.153. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Nash K., Hafeez A., Hou S. Hospital-acquired renal insufficiency. Am. J. Kidney Dis. 2002;39:930–936. doi: 10.1053/ajkd.2002.32766. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Thakar C.V., Christianson A., Freyberg R., Almenoff P., Render M.L. Incidence and outcomes of acute kidney injury in intensive care units: A veterans administration study. Crit. Care Med. 2009;37:2552–2558. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181a5906f. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Macedo E., Mehta R.L. Preventing acute kidney injury. Crit. Care Clin. 2015;31:773–784. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2015.06.011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Santodomingo-Garzon T., Cunha T.M., Verri W.A., Jr., Valerio D.A., Parada C.A., Poole S., Ferreira S.H., Cunha F.Q. Atorvastatin inhibits inflammatory hypernociception. Br. J. Pharmacol. 2006;149:14–22. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706836. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Rosenson R.S. Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cardiovascular disease: Risk reduction with statin therapy. Am. Heart J. 2006;151:556–563. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2005.03.049. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Novack V., Terblanche M., Almog Y. Do statins have a role in preventing or treating sepsis? Crit. Care. 2006;10:113. doi: 10.1186/cc3972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Terblanche M., Almog Y., Rosenson R.S., Smith T.S., Hackam D.G. Statins and sepsis: Multiple modifications at multiple levels. Lancet Infect Dis. 2007;7:358–368. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(07)70111-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Wang C.Y., Liu P.Y., Liao J.K. Pleiotropic effects of statin therapy: Molecular mechanisms and clinical results. Trends Mol. Med. 2008;14:37–44. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2007.11.004. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Molnar A.O., Coca S.G., Devereaux P.J., Jain A.K., Kitchlu A., Luo J., Parikh C.R., Paterson J.M., Siddiqui N., Wald R., et al. Statin use associates with a lower incidence of acute kidney injury after major elective surgery. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. 2011;22:939–946. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2010050442. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Campbell J. Hmg coa reductase inhibitors (statins) for preventing acute kidney injury after surgical procedures requiring cardiac bypass. J. Perioper. Pract. 2018;28:142–143. doi: 10.1177/1750458918777457. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Han Y., Zhu G., Han L., Hou F., Huang W., Liu H., Gan J., Jiang T., Li X., Wang W., et al. Short-term rosuvastatin therapy for prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2014;63:62–70. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2013.09.017. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Yasuda H., Yuen P.S., Hu X., Zhou H., Star R.A. Simvastatin improves sepsis-induced mortality and acute kidney injury via renal vascular effects. Kidney Int. 2006;69:1535–1542. doi: 10.1038/sj.ki.5000300. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Su X., Zhang L., Lv J., Wang J., Hou W., Xie X., Zhang H. Effect of statins on kidney disease outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am. J. Kidney Dis. 2016;67:881–892. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2016.01.016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Hallan S., Asberg A., Lindberg M., Johnsen H. Validation of the modification of diet in renal disease formula for estimating gfr with special emphasis on calibration of the serum creatinine assay. Am. J. Kidney Dis. 2004;44:84–93. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2004.03.027. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Neaton J.D., Blackburn H., Jacobs D., Kuller L., Lee D.J., Sherwin R., Shih J., Stamler J., Wentworth D. Serum cholesterol level and mortality findings for men screened in the multiple risk factor intervention trial. Multiple risk factor intervention trial research group. Arch. Intern. Med. 1992;152:1490–1500. doi: 10.1001/archinte.1992.00400190110021. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Sempos C.T., Cleeman J.I., Carroll M.D., Johnson C.L., Bachorik P.S., Gordon D.J., Burt V.L., Briefel R.R., Brown C.D., Lippel K., et al. Prevalence of high blood cholesterol among us adults. An update based on guidelines from the second report of the national cholesterol education program adult treatment panel. JAMA. 1993;269:3009–3014. doi: 10.1001/jama.1993.03500230091035. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Kellum J.A., Lameire N., Group K.A.G.W. Diagnosis, evaluation, and management of acute kidney injury: A kdigo summary (part 1) Crit. Care. 2013;17:204. doi: 10.1186/cc11454. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Chawla L.S., Eggers P.W., Star R.A., Kimmel P.L. Acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease as interconnected syndromes. N. Engl. J. Med. 2014;371:58–66. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1214243. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Armstrong R.A. When to use the bonferroni correction. Ophthalmic Physiol. Opt. 2014;34:502–508. doi: 10.1111/opo.12131. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Sanguankeo A., Upala S., Cheungpasitporn W., Ungprasert P., Knight E.L. Effects of statins on renal outcome in chronic kidney disease patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 2015;10:e0132970. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Messow C.M., Isles C. Meta-analysis of statins in chronic kidney disease: Who benefits? QJM. 2017;110:493–500. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hcx040. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Basile D.P., Anderson M.D., Sutton T.A. Pathophysiology of acute kidney injury. Compr. Physiol. 2012;2:1303–1353. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c110041. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Liao J.K., Laufs U. Pleiotropic effects of statins. Annu. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 2005;45:89–118. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pharmtox.45.120403.095748. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Fuller B.M., Gajera M., Schorr C., Gerber D., Dellinger R.P., Zanotti S. The association of prior statin use in septic shock treated with early goal directed therapy. Eur. J. Emerg. Med. 2012;19:226–230. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834b3467. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Thomsen R.W., Riis A., Kornum J.B., Christensen S., Johnsen S.P., Sorensen H.T. Preadmission use of statins and outcomes after hospitalization with pneumonia: Population-based cohort study of 29,900 patients. Arch. Intern. Med. 2008;168:2081–2087. doi: 10.1001/archinte.168.19.2081. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Craig T., O’Kane C., McAuley D. Intensive Care Medicine. Springer; Berlin, Germany: 2007. Potential mechanisms by which statins modulate the development of acute lung injury; pp. 276–288. [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Nagendran M., McAuley D.F., Kruger P.S., Papazian L., Truwit J.D., Laffey J.G., Thompson B.T., Clarke M., Gordon A.C. Statin therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome: An individual patient data meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials. Intensive Care Med. 2017;43:663–671. doi: 10.1007/s00134-016-4649-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Thomas G., Hraiech S., Loundou A., Truwit J., Kruger P., McAuley D.F., Papazian L., Roch A. Statin therapy in critically-ill patients with severe sepsis: A review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Minerva Anestesiol. 2015;81:921–930. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 32.Sastre C., Rubio-Navarro A., Buendia I., Gomez-Guerrero C., Blanco J., Mas S., Egido J., Blanco-Colio L.M., Ortiz A., Moreno J.A. Hyperlipidemia-associated renal damage decreases klotho expression in kidneys from apoe knockout mice. PLoS ONE. 2013;8:e83713. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083713. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 33.Wilson R.F., Barletta J.F., Tyburski J.G. Hypocholesterolemia in sepsis and critically ill or injured patients. Crit. Care. 2003;7:413–414. doi: 10.1186/cc2390. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 34.Gui D., Spada P.L., De Gaetano A., Pacelli F. Hypocholesterolemia and risk of death in the critically ill surgical patient. Intensive Care Med. 1996;22:790–794. doi: 10.1007/BF01709522. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Medicine are provided here courtesy of Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

RESOURCES