Korean J Transplant.  2023 Nov;37(Suppl 1):S76. 10.4285/ATW2023.F-6541.

Clinical effects of early statin use in kidney transplant recipients: results from the KNOW-KT study

• Yim SH
• Kim HJ
• Huh KH
• Kim MS
• Lee J

• KMID: 2551663
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/ATW2023.F-6541

Abstract

Background
Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after kidney transplantation. Although statins reduce cardiovascular risk and have renal benefits in the general population, their effects on kidney transplant recipients are not well-established.
Methods
We studied the effects of early statin use (within 1-year posttransplantation) on long-term outcomes in 714 kidney transplant recipients from the Korean Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients with Kidney Transplantation.
Results
Compared with the control group, statin group recipients were significantly older, had a higher body mass index, and had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus. During a median follow-up of 85 months, 74 graft losses occurred (54 death-cen-sored graft losses and 20 deaths). Early statin use was independently associated with lower mortality (hazard ratio, 0.280; 95% confidence interval, 0.111–0.703) and lower death-censored graft loss (hazard ratio, 0.350; 95% confidence interval, 0.198– 0.616). Statin therapy significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels but did not decrease the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Biopsy-proven rejection and graft renal function were not significantly different between statin and control groups.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that early statin use is an effective strategy for reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and improving patient and graft survival after kidney transplantation.