Efficacy of rosuvastatin among men and women with moderate chronic kidney disease and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein: a secondary analysis from the JUPITER (Justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention-an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) trial

Objectives: We evaluated the efficacy of statin therapy in primary prevention among individuals with moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Background: Whether patents with moderate CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) benefit from statin therapy is uncertain, particularly among those without hyperlipidemia or known cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Within the JUPITER (Justification for the Use of statins in Prevention-an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) primary prevention trial of rosuvastatin 20 mg compared with placebo among men and women free of cardiovascular disease who had low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) <130 mg/dl and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) >or=2 mg/l, we performed a secondary analysis comparing cardiovascular and mortality outcomes among those with moderate CKD at study entry (n = 3,267) with those with baseline eGFR >or=60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (n = 14,528). Median follow-up was 1.9 years (maximum 5 years).

Results: Compared with those with eGFR >or=60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), JUPITER participants with moderate CKD had higher vascular event rates (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23 to 1.92, p = 0.0002). Among those with moderate CKD, rosuvastatin was associated with a 45% reduction in risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, hospital stay for unstable angina, arterial revascularization, or confirmed cardiovascular death (HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.82, p = 0.002) and a 44% reduction in all-cause mortality (HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.85, p = 0.005). Median LDL-C and hsCRP reductions as well as side effect profiles associated with rosuvastatin were similar among those with and without CKD. Median eGFR at 12 months was marginally improved among those allocated to rosuvastatin as compared with placebo.

Conclusions: Rosuvastatin reduces first cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality among men and women with LDL-C <130 mg/dl, elevated hsCRP, and concomitant evidence of moderate CKD. (JUPITER-Crestor 20 mg Versus Placebo in Prevention of Cardiovascular [CV] Events; NCT00239681).