A Study Of The Usage Of Statins In A Community Heart Failure Population

Heart Failure Clinical Trial

Official title:

A Study Of The Usage Of Statins In A Community Heart Failure Population: The Impact of HMG Co-Enzyme A Reductase Inhibitors on Heart Structural Parameters, Brain Naturetic Peptide, Markers of Inflammation and Fibrosis

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00795912
• Other study ID #: SVUH -HFU-015
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• First received: November 19, 2008
• Last updated: November 20, 2008
• Start date: May 2003
• Est. completion date: January 2008

Study information

• Verified date: November 2008
• Source: St Vincent's University Hospital, Ireland
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Ireland: Ministry of HealthIreland: Irish Medicines Board
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Inflammation and fibrosis may be important contributors to worsening heart failure. As well as lowering cholesterol, statins are also known to reduce inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein which are elevated in severe heart failure. Therefore, this project will evaluate the benefit, if any, of statins on markers of heart structure and function, on inflammatory markers and markers of fibrosis in patients with normal cholesterol.

Description:

Heart Failure (HF) remains a major public health problem. Despite significant advances in the pharmacological management of this condition, the high mortality associated with heart failure remains a concern with annual figures ranging from 10 - 15% in mildly symptomatic patients to 50 - 60% in patients with severe heart failure.1

The major aetiological cause of HF is ischemic heart disease (IHD). While guidelines on the treatment of IHD recommend the use of lipid lowering therapy with hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) to improve prognosis, recent surveys from the UK and have shown that these effective therapies are being under-utilised.2 The reasons appear to be multifactorial but include issues related to efficacy, safety, potential for adverse drug reactions, failure to prescribe appropriate medication or dose and noncompliance with therapy.3

Some data from the large trials of statins are suggestive of benefit. In the 4S study 412 patients (9.2% of the study population) developed chronic heart failure requiring treatment, i.e. 228 (10.3%) in the placebo group and 184 (8.3%) patients in the group treated with simvastatin (p < 0.015). However, several questions remain, not least how statins might be beneficial in the setting of symptomatic heart failure.4 Treatment of heart failure has been targeted to a certain extent at the cause - and in the case of the majority of heart failure patients, the cause is related to ischemic heart disease and, perhaps, atherosclerosis. Furthermore, it is believed that the non-lipid lowering effects of statins, including neoangiogenesis, inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine activity, anti-fibrotic effects and favorable modulation of the autonomic nervous system, could play a positive role in the medical management of HF.5,6

However, there are several specific concerns, which clinicians may have in relation to the use of statins in heart failure. The average age of a community heart failure population is generally above 70 years and observational data from Framingham have suggested an inverse relationship between total cholesterol levels and all-cause mortality in older patients.5 There is an association between a total cholesterol level less than 5.2 mmol/L and impaired one-year event free survival in a large group of patients with heart failure.6 Statins can have a deleterious effect on myocardial function and thus have adverse effects on skeletal or cardiac muscles due to the inhibition of the synthesis of mevalonate, a precursor of ubiquinone.7

Elevated levels of markers such as C-reactive protein, TNF alpha and other inflammatory cytokines have been associated with poorer outcome in patients with HF, but excluding those with clear sources of infection or other inflammatory disorder, elevated C-reactive protein correlates with NYHA functional class and is associated with higher levels of morbidity.9 Several therapies in HF, notably ACE inhibition and AII Receptor Blockade have been shown to have anti-cytokine effects.10 Statins have been shown to reduce levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines in IHD. Recent data using atorvastatin has suggested that significant reductions in C-reactive protein levels are only seen in the patients with the highest pre-existing levels.11

Chronic inflammation can promote excessive cardiomyocyte loss, cardiac fibroblast proliferation, increased rates of extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover and altered composition of the ECM resulting in reduced functional performance of the heart.12-17

Natriuretic peptides have been shown to be useful markers for screening, diagnosis and treatment monitoring in heart failure. New data suggests that BNP may be an important counter-regulatory protein operating through the natriuretic peptide receptor type-A (NPRA) as a protective response, not only to stretch and volume overload in the myocardium13 but also to myocardial fibrosis and inflammation.18

In summary, from a clinical practice point of view the under usage of statins in heart failure populations may reflect the ongoing debate about their efficacy, safety and the potential for adverse drug interactions in this patient population. From a mechanistic point of view, the potential benefits of statins in heart failure may relate to direct improvements in ischemia and/or cardiac function and may be mediated via suppression of inflammatory cytokines, alteration of myocardial fibrosis and may be unrelated to cholesterol lowering effects. This project will have two phases with the following objectives:

[Objective 1] To evaluate the usage of statins in a community heart failure population admitted to our institution.

[Objective 2] To study the impact of statin therapy on natriuretic peptides, inflammatory markers and markers of fibrosis in a population with heart failure and normal cholesterol

To evaluate objective 2, a prospective, randomized, open-label study of mild to moderate HF patients was approved by the St Vincent's University Hospital ethics committee. All recruited patients give their informed consent and are randomized using a computer generated protocol to atorvastatin therapy [Intervention group (I)] or no statin therapy [Control group (C)] for a six month period.

Additionally, a further group of individuals without heart failure or proven cardiovascular disease and with normal cholesterol are enrolled for the purposes of baseline comparison (Normal group).

In the randomized study, all patients have mild to moderate HF (NYHA class II-III) of any aetiology and documented left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF < 45%) by echocardiography within 3 months of randomization. These patients are clinically stable, on optimal HF medical therapy which had remained unaltered for at least four weeks prior to recruitment. All have normal fasting total cholesterol (TC < 5.1 mmol/L). The following patients are excluded from the study: those receiving lipid lowering agents; those with absolute or relative contraindications to statins; those with known chronic inflammatory conditions; patients with medical conditions requiring anti-inflammatory or immuno-suppressive therapies. The same exclusion criteria are applied to the Normal group.

In addition to optimal HF therapy, the I group (n=28) receive atorvastatin titrated from 10-40 mg/day over 3 months and maintained at 40mg/day for a further 3 months. The C group (n=28) receive optimal HF medication only.

Patients undergo routine clinical examination at the heart failure unit, which includes clinical history, physical examination and chest X-Ray appearance. Fasting Blood samples are taken and stored for subsequent measurement of cholesterol, FBC, High Sensitivity CRP, TNF alpha, IL-6, U & E, TFT, BNP and markers of collagen turnover. 12-lead ECG and Echocardiography is performed at baseline and six months. The Minnesota Living With Heart Failure (MLWHF) questionnaire was self-administered at baseline and 6 months. The Normal group underwent phlebotomy at baseline to enable comparison with the HF study sample.

Routine clinical review at the heart failure unit is carried out during the trial, including clinical examination FBC (including LFTs), U & E and assessment for side effects. The patients are advised to attend their general practitioner for all non heart failure related problems.

Comparisons between the Normal group and the randomized study patients (C and I groups) at baseline are made using independent t-test, Mann Whitney or chi square test where appropriate. Due to non normal distributions in the biochemical markers and lipids, Friedman's ANOVA is used to test for treatment effects over the study period. Pairwise comparisons are made using the Wilcoxon test. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA) is used to test treatment effects on quality of life (QOL) and LVEF. To enable statistical control for the effects of age and gender, non normal variables are log transformed and a RM ANCOVA fit to the data. Correlations are computed using Spearman's rank order correlation.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 56
• Est. completion date: January 2008
• Est. primary completion date: November 2005
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Mild to moderate HF (NYHA class II-III) of any aetiology and documented left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF < 45%) by echocardiography within 3 months of randomization. These patients were clinically stable, on optimal HF medical therapy which had remained unaltered for at least four weeks prior to recruitment. All had normal fasting total cholesterol.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those receiving lipid lowering agents; those with absolute or relative contraindications to statins; those with known chronic inflammatory conditions; patients with medical conditions requiring anti-inflammatory or immuno-suppressive therapies.

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Heart Failure

Intervention

Drug:
• Atorvastatin
atorvastatin titrated from 10-40 mg/day over 3 months and maintained at 40mg/day for a further 3 months

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Ireland	Heart Failure Unit, St Vincents University Hospital	Dublin	Co Dublin

Sponsors (4)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
St Vincent's University Hospital, Ireland	University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Dublin, Trinity College

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Ireland, 

References & Publications (18)

Alonso-Martínez JL, Llorente-Diez B, Echegaray-Agara M, Olaz-Preciado F, Urbieta-Echezarreta M, González-Arencibia C. C-reactive protein as a predictor of improvement and readmission in heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail. 2002 Jun;4(3):331-6. — View Citation

Braunstein JB, Cheng A, Cohn G, Aggarwal M, Nass CM, Blumenthal RS. Lipid disorders: justification of methods and goals of treatment. Chest. 2001 Sep;120(3):979-88. Review. — View Citation

Bujak M, Ren G, Kweon HJ, Dobaczewski M, Reddy A, Taffet G, Wang XF, Frangogiannis NG. Essential role of Smad3 in infarct healing and in the pathogenesis of cardiac remodeling. Circulation. 2007 Nov 6;116(19):2127-38. Epub 2007 Oct 22. — View Citation

Clearfield MB. Statins: balancing benefits, efficacy and safety. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2002 May;3(5):469-77. Review. — View Citation

Cleland JG, Swedberg K, Poole-Wilson PA. Successes and failures of current treatment of heart failure. Lancet. 1998 Aug;352 Suppl 1:SI19-28. Review. — View Citation

Gullestad L, Kjekshus J, Damås JK, Ueland T, Yndestad A, Aukrust P. Agents targeting inflammation in heart failure. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2005 May;14(5):557-66. Review. — View Citation

Kapoun AM, Liang F, O'Young G, Damm DL, Quon D, White RT, Munson K, Lam A, Schreiner GF, Protter AA. B-type natriuretic peptide exerts broad functional opposition to transforming growth factor-beta in primary human cardiac fibroblasts: fibrosis, myofibroblast conversion, proliferation, and inflammation. Circ Res. 2004 Mar 5;94(4):453-61. Epub 2004 Jan 15. — View Citation

Kjekshus J. Debate: Statins should be used in patients with heart failure. Curr Control Trials Cardiovasc Med. 2001;2(6):268-270. — View Citation

Kronmal RA, Cain KC, Ye Z, Omenn GS. Total serum cholesterol levels and mortality risk as a function of age. A report based on the Framingham data. Arch Intern Med. 1993 May 10;153(9):1065-73. — View Citation

Krum H, McMurray JJ. Statins and chronic heart failure: do we need a large-scale outcome trial? J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002 May 15;39(10):1567-73. — View Citation

Martos R, Baugh J, Ledwidge M, O'Loughlin C, Conlon C, Patle A, Donnelly SC, McDonald K. Diastolic heart failure: evidence of increased myocardial collagen turnover linked to diastolic dysfunction. Circulation. 2007 Feb 20;115(7):888-95. Epub 2007 Feb 5. — View Citation

Querejeta R, López B, González A, Sánchez E, Larman M, Martínez Ubago JL, Díez J. Increased collagen type I synthesis in patients with heart failure of hypertensive origin: relation to myocardial fibrosis. Circulation. 2004 Sep 7;110(10):1263-8. Epub 2004 Aug 16. — View Citation

Rauchhaus M, Coats AJ, Anker SD. The endotoxin-lipoprotein hypothesis. Lancet. 2000 Sep 9;356(9233):930-3. Review. — View Citation

Riesen WF, Engler H, Risch M, Korte W, Noseda G. Short-term effects of atorvastatin on C-reactive protein. Eur Heart J. 2002 May;23(10):794-9. — View Citation

Swynghedauw B. Molecular mechanisms of myocardial remodeling. Physiol Rev. 1999 Jan;79(1):215-62. Review. — View Citation

Tavazzi L, Tognoni G, Franzosi MG, Latini R, Maggioni AP, Marchioli R, Nicolosi GL, Porcu M; GISSI-HF Investigators. Rationale and design of the GISSI heart failure trial: a large trial to assess the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and rosuvastatin in symptomatic congestive heart failure. Eur J Heart Fail. 2004 Aug;6(5):635-41. — View Citation

Weber KT, Sun Y, Tyagi SC, Cleutjens JP. Collagen network of the myocardium: function, structural remodeling and regulatory mechanisms. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1994 Mar;26(3):279-92. Review. — View Citation

Zannad F, Alla F, Dousset B, Perez A, Pitt B. Limitation of excessive extracellular matrix turnover may contribute to survival benefit of spironolactone therapy in patients with congestive heart failure: insights from the randomized aldactone evaluation study (RALES). Rales Investigators. Circulation. 2000 Nov 28;102(22):2700-6. Erratum in: Circulation 2001 Jan 23;103(3):476. — View Citation

* Note: There are 18 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	hsCRP, TNF-alpha, IL-6		6 months	No
Secondary	B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Markers of collagen turnover		6 months	No