Effect of Atorvastatin on the Frequency of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in Patients With Ischemic Stroke
Status:
Unknown status
Trial end date:
2014-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in
ventilated critically ill patients specially in intensive care unit (ICU). It is associated
with an increased duration of mechanical ventilation, high death rates and increased
healthcare costs in China. However, VAP is preventable and many practices have been
demonstrated to reduce the incidence of this disease, but the morbidity is still so high. So
much more methods of prevention should be needed to reduce the incidence of VAP.
Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) present
anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects besides their ability to regulate cholesterol
composition. So it is hypothesized that early use of statin may prevent some of the infection
disease such as VAP.
Actually, Two studies have showed that statin treatment is associated with reduced risk of
pneumonia. However, the relationship between statins and reduced risk of pneumonia is not
consistent.
After reviewing some of the guidelines,meta analyses and system reviews, the investigator
find that advanced age,immune suppression from disease or medication and specially depressed
level of consciousness are the risk factors of VAP. So the investigator assumes that early
use of statin may give us a favorable outcome in the patients with coma or in the patients
with severe disease (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score > 15 or Glasgow
coma score < 7).
In addition there is no prospective study to investigate the role of statins in VAP in the
patients with ischemic stroke. The investigator hopes that this study can approve the
relationship between statins and reduced risk of VAP in the patients with ischemic stroke.
And it can improve the processes,outcomes and costs of critical care as well.