The effects of statin therapy on aneurysm size, growth rate, and matrix metalloproteinases-9 levels in patients with aortic aneurysm: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Aortic aneurysm enlargement over time causes rupture, which frequently results in death. The family of proteases known as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) is assumed to be proteolytic activity involved in the growth of aortic aneurysms. Statins are pleiotropic lipid-lowering medications with anti-inflammatory action. Statins can lower aneurysmal enlargement and MMP secretion, according to a number of studies, however the evidence is still up for debate. The purpose of this study is to assess how statins affect aortic aneurysm patient's aneurysm diameter size, growth rate, and MMP-9 levels. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2022, electronic journal searches in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane were conducted to discover papers evaluating the effects of statin treatment in patients with aortic aneurysm. Aneurysm diameter size, growth rate, and MMP-9 levels were the outcomes we were looking for. Meta-analyses were run on the included studies, and mean differences (MD) and 95% CIs were calculated with Review Manager v5.4. RESULTS: Our analysis includes a total of ten research. Statin medication substantially reduced aneurysm diameter size by 0.30 mm (P = 0.04; MD − 0.30; 95% CI − 0.58 to − 0.01) and growth rate by 0.34 mm/year (P < 0.00001; MD − 0.34; 95% CI − 0.40 to − 0.29) compared to placebo. There was no significant change in MMP-9 concentrations between individuals with aortic aneurysm who took a statin and those who did not. CONCLUSION: Overall, this meta-analysis demonstrates that statin medication is considerably helpful in reducing aneurysm diameter size and aneurysmal growth rate in individuals with aortic aneurysm.