BACKGROUND: The use of aspirin alone and statins alone has been shown to reduce markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein (CRP); however, their combination has been poorly studied. METHODS: In a cross-sectional analysis of black and white adults > or =45 years old from the REGARDS cohort, the associations of aspirin and statin use with CRP were examined. Individuals requiring nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy or those taking aspirin for reasons other than cardioprotection were excluded from analysis. Participants were classified into 1 of 4 groups: aspirin only (n = 3,673), statin only (n = 1,898), both agents (n = 3,008), or neither agent (n = 7,718). RESULTS: Estimated mean CRP was 2.78 mg/L for subjects taking neither drug, 2.73 mg/L with aspirin only, 2.29 mg/L with statins only, and 2.03 mg/L for subjects taking both agents. The combined use of both agents was associated with an apparent synergistically lower CRP; the mean CRP level among these combined users was 0.21 mg/L lower than that anticipated from additive association related to aspirin and statins alone (P for interaction = .01). Associations were larger among participants reporting a history of cardiovascular disease. In addition, among statin users, the use of aspirin for >5 years compared with < or =5 years was associated with apparent significantly lower CRP concentrations (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of aspirin and statins was associated with a synergistically lower CRP concentration, especially among participants taking aspirin for >5 years. Given the limitations of this study and the modest associations, randomized controlled trial evidence is needed to confirm the findings.
BACKGROUND: The use of aspirin alone and statins alone has been shown to reduce markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein (CRP); however, their combination has been poorly studied. METHODS: In a cross-sectional analysis of black and white adults > or =45 years old from the REGARDS cohort, the associations of aspirin and statin use with CRP were examined. Individuals requiring nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy or those taking aspirin for reasons other than cardioprotection were excluded from analysis. Participants were classified into 1 of 4 groups: aspirin only (n = 3,673), statin only (n = 1,898), both agents (n = 3,008), or neither agent (n = 7,718). RESULTS: Estimated mean CRP was 2.78 mg/L for subjects taking neither drug, 2.73 mg/L with aspirin only, 2.29 mg/L with statins only, and 2.03 mg/L for subjects taking both agents. The combined use of both agents was associated with an apparent synergistically lower CRP; the mean CRP level among these combined users was 0.21 mg/L lower than that anticipated from additive association related to aspirin and statins alone (P for interaction = .01). Associations were larger among participants reporting a history of cardiovascular disease. In addition, among statin users, the use of aspirin for >5 years compared with < or =5 years was associated with apparent significantly lower CRP concentrations (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of aspirin and statins was associated with a synergistically lower CRP concentration, especially among participants taking aspirin for >5 years. Given the limitations of this study and the modest associations, randomized controlled trial evidence is needed to confirm the findings.
Authors: Rabih R Azar; Samira Klayme; Mirna Germanos; Roland Kassab; Samer Tawm; Simon Aboujaoudé; Roger Naman Journal: Am J Cardiol Date: 2003-07-15 Impact factor: 2.778
Authors: Christie M Ballantyne; John Houri; Alberto Notarbartolo; Lorenzo Melani; Leslie J Lipka; Ramachandran Suresh; Steven Sun; Alexandre P LeBeaut; Philip T Sager; Enrico P Veltri Journal: Circulation Date: 2003-04-28 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Julie K Plenge; Teri L Hernandez; Kathleen M Weil; Paul Poirier; Gary K Grunwald; Santica M Marcovina; Robert H Eckel Journal: Circulation Date: 2002-09-17 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Charles H Hennekens; Frank M Sacks; Andrew Tonkin; J Wouter Jukema; Robert P Byington; Bertram Pitt; Donald A Berry; Scott M Berry; Neville F Ford; Andrew J Walker; Kannan Natarajan; Chen Sheng-Lin; Frederick T Fiedorek; Rene Belder Journal: Arch Intern Med Date: 2004-01-12
Authors: Jie J Cao; Chau Thach; Teri A Manolio; Bruce M Psaty; Lewis H Kuller; Paulo H M Chaves; Joseph F Polak; Kim Sutton-Tyrrell; David M Herrington; Thomas R Price; Mary Cushman Journal: Circulation Date: 2003-06-23 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Katharine R Owen; Gaya Thanabalasingham; Timothy J James; Fredrik Karpe; Andrew J Farmer; Mark I McCarthy; Anna L Gloyn Journal: Diabetes Care Date: 2010-08-19 Impact factor: 17.152