Statins use and risk of mortality in patient with Clostridium difficile infection

Current evidence suggests that statins may improve outcome in infectious diseases. This study aims to assess whether statins use is associated with reduced risk of 30-day mortality in Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Using the computerized database of Clalit, the largest healthcare provider in Israel, we identified a cohort of adult subjects (age ≥40 years) who tested positive on a C. difficile toxin assay performed between January 2011 and December 2012. Subjects were defined as current statins users if they filled at least one prescription during the 90 days before the laboratory assay date. Current users were classified into long-term users if at least one additional prescription was filled during the previous 91-180 days; otherwise they were defined as short-term users. A total 1888 patients with CDI were included. Of them, 340 (18.0%) died during the first 30 days after diagnosis. The 30-day mortality rate was lower among current statins users 89/669 (13.3%) compared with 251/1219 (20.6%) in non-users (p