• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Pulmonology

Simvastatin ineffective in acute respiratory distress syndrome [HARP-2 trial]

byAndrew Cheung, MD MBA
September 30, 2014
in Pulmonology
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. When compared with placebo, simvastatin did not significantly reduce the number of ventilator-free days in patients presenting with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

2. Moreover, simvastatin did not significantly reduce 28-day mortality as compared with placebo.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Study Rundown: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) refers to a spectrum of illnesses characterized by respiratory failure, often requiring mechanical ventilation. The PaO2 to FiO2 ratio (PF ratio) is often used to diagnose ARDS and assess severity. While a previous randomized controlled trial suggested that simvastatin reduced nonpulmonary organ dysfunction in ARDS, the trial was limited to a single centre and was underpowered to assess the effect on clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine if simvastatin treatment would improve clinical outcomes in patients presenting with ARDS irrespective of etiology.

In summary, this trial found that simvastatin treatment was not associated with any significant reductions in ventilator-free days when compared with placebo (mean difference 1.1 days; 95%CI -0.6 to 2.8). Moreover, there were no significant differences in 28-day mortality (RR 0.8; 95%CI 0.6-1.1). A strength of this study was its heterogeneous study population. By including all patients with ARDS regardless of cause, the findings are more generalizable. The findings of this study, taken along with the results from the Statins for Acutely Injured Lungs from Sepsis (SAILS) trial, suggest that there is little value in using statins to treat ARDS.

Click to read the study, published today in NEJM

Relevant Reading: Rosuvastatin for sepsis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome

RELATED REPORTS

Risk of myopathy and myalgia among statin users may be small and clinically insignificant

Tocilizumab not superior to standard care in randomized controlled trial for severe COVID-19 patients

Critically ill COVID-19 patients may benefit from convalescent plasma therapy

In-Depth [randomized, controlled study]: This study was conducted in 40 intensive care units across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Patients were eligible if they were intubated and ventilated within 48 hours after the onset of ARDS (i.e., PF ratio ≤300 mmHg). Exclusion criteria included age <16 years, pregnancy, severe renal impairment, severe liver disease, and treatment with statins in the 2 weeks prior to randomization. A total of 540 patients were randomized to receive either simvastatin 80 mg daily or placebo. The primary outcome measure was the number of ventilator-free days to day 28. Secondary outcomes included change in the oxygenation index and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, and 28-day mortality.

There were no significant differences between the two groups in the number of ventilator-free days (mean difference 1.1 days; 95%CI -0.6 to 2.8). After adjusting for baseline PF ratio, there was still no significant difference in ventilator-free days (mean difference 1.4 days; 95%CI -0.3 to to 3.2). The two groups were not significantly different in terms of change in oxygenation index or SOFA score. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of 28-day mortality (RR 0.8; 95%CI 0.6-1.1).

Image: PD

©2012-2014 2minutemedicine.com. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2minutemedicine.com. Disclaimer: We present factual information directly from peer reviewed medical journals. No post should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors, editors, staff or by 2minutemedicine.com. PLEASE SEE A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IN YOUR AREA IF YOU SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE OF ANY SORT. 

Tags: ARDSsimvastatin
Previous Post

Glatiramer acetate (Copaxone) therapy may alter B cell function in multiple sclerosis

Next Post

Vitamin D supplementation in the ICU does not improve outcomes [VITdAL-ICU trial]

RelatedReports

Gender conformity influences use of laxatives and muscle-building products
Cardiology

Risk of myopathy and myalgia among statin users may be small and clinically insignificant

September 20, 2022
Prescription of antibiotics for acute respiratory infections increasing
Emergency

Tocilizumab not superior to standard care in randomized controlled trial for severe COVID-19 patients

February 1, 2021
Critically ill COVID-19 patients may benefit from convalescent plasma therapy
Infectious Disease

Critically ill COVID-19 patients may benefit from convalescent plasma therapy

April 9, 2020
#VisualAbstract: Clinical Course and Risk Factors for Mortality of Adult Inpatients With COVID-19 In Wuhan, China
StudyGraphics

#VisualAbstract: Clinical Course and Risk Factors for Mortality of Adult Inpatients With COVID-19 In Wuhan, China

April 8, 2020
Next Post
Vitamin and supplement data remains limited, may provide no benefit

Vitamin D supplementation in the ICU does not improve outcomes [VITdAL-ICU trial]

Acupuncture ineffective for chronic knee pain

Acupuncture ineffective for chronic knee pain

Imaging biomarkers may improve prediction of aortic valve stenosis

Bioprosthetic and mechanical aortic valve replacement yield similar results in younger patients

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Deep intronic FGF14 repeat expansion associated with late-onset cerebella ataxia
  • Plant-based diets may be associated with lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer
  • #VisualAbstract: Adagrasib provides antitumour activity against KRAS G12C mutant metastatic colorectal cancer both as monotherapy and in combination with cetuximab
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

Want more physician-written
medical news?

Join over 10 million yearly readers and numerous companies. For healthcare professionals
and the public.

Subscribe for free today!

Subscription options