Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) that took statins at least six months before and after kidney failure had a 28 percent lower risk of death than patients who stopped taking statins after kidney failure, as found in one study. In addition, these individuals had an 18 percent lower risk of cardiovascular-related death when compared to the statin discontinuers.
The better cardiovascular outcomes were not observed in studies where individuals with CKD started taking statins after kidney failure, pointing to the importance of early CKD detection and taking statins before and after kidney failure.
Statins are drugs taken to lower the risk for cardiovascular disease (e.g., coronary heart disease, stroke, congenital heart defects, peripheral artery disease), which is one of the highest causes for mortality and morbidity in CKD patients.
