The effects of statins on blood pressure in normotensive or hypertensive subjects--a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate whether statin therapy is associated with blood pressure (BP)-lowering in patients with or without hypertension.

Background: The beneficial effects of statins on the cardiovascular system may in part be related to effects beyond lipid-lowering. It has been suggested that statins may reduce BP; however the available data are still ambiguous and often conflicting.

Methods: Data from Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for the years 1966-January 2012 were searched for studies that investigated the effect of statins on BP in normotensive or in hypertensive subjects. We included all randomized controlled clinical trials that investigated this effect. Changes in systolic and diastolic BP were the key outcomes of interest.

Results: The final analysis included 18 trials and 5628 subjects (4692 normotensive and 936 hypertensive patients) randomized to receive either statins or placebo. The weighted mean difference of systolic (∆SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (∆DBP) in normotensive patients for the 11 statin trials included were 0.03 (95% CI: -0.95-1.02; p = 0.95) and -0.28 (95% CI: -0.80-0.24; p = 0.29), respectively. For hypertensive patients treated with statins (8 trials) the weighted mean difference of ∆SBP and ∆DBP were 1.45 (95% CI: -0.49-3.39; p = 0.14) and -1.32 (95% CI: -3.93-1.28; p = 0.32) respectively.

Conclusions: Despite previous suggestions statin therapy in normotensive or hypertensive patients does not lead to significant reductions in systolic or diastolic BP.

Keywords: Blood pressure; Hypertension; Meta-analysis; Statins; Therapy.