Open AccessUse of lipid-lowering agents is not associated with improved outcomes for tuberculosis patients on standard-course therapy: A population-based cohort study
Author(s) -
Yung Tai Chen,
ShuChen Kuo,
Pei Wen Chao,
Yea Yuan Chang
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0210479
Subject(s) - medicine , cohort , cohort study , population , fibrate , tuberculosis , retrospective cohort study , statin , incidence (geometry) , pathology , environmental health , physics , optics
Objectives Animal and ex vitro studies suggested lipid-lowering agents (LLAs) may be used as an adjunct to standard anti- tuberculosis (TB) treatment. No human study has been conducted to date. Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), the current population-based cohort study sought to examine the association between use of LLAs and outcomes of patients with pulmonary TB receiving anti-TB treatment. Methods Using a NHIRD from 2003 to 2010, this population-based cohort study retrospectively examined the association between LLAs (statins or fibrates) and the outcomes of patients with pulmonary TB receiving anti-TB treatment. Results A total of 1452 adult patients newly diagnosed with pulmonary TB during the study period were identified and compared with 5808 matched patients. In the LAA cohort, 1258 received statin, and 295 received fibrate. Compared with patients who did not take LLA, patients who took oral LLAs had similar incidence of treatment completion at 9, 12, and 24 months. Conclusions Neither statins nor fibrates provide clinical benefit superior to that achieved with standard anti-tuberculosis treatment. Future clinical trials should investigate the effects of statins and fibrates on short-course standard anti-TB therapy.