While statins have shown antiviral effects in different studies, few data are available about their effect among different HCV genotypes.

To evaluate the effect of concomitant statin use on sustained virologic response (SVR) and other treatment outcomes among patients with HCV genotypes 1–3.

Using US Department of Veterans Affairs database, multivariate (MV), propensity score matched (PSM) and repeated measures mixed model analyses were performed on patients who received combination therapy with Peg–IFN and Ribavirin for treatment of HCV genotypes 1–3 between October 2001–December 2011. Concomitant statin users were matched with non-users in each genotype and SVR rates were compared. Changes in serum ALT during treatment was assessed.

Of 37,611 treated patients, 236 genotype 1 (GT1), 78 genotype 2 (GT2) and 23 genotype 3 (GT3) statin users and non-users were used for PSM. SVR among GT1 patients was 22.8% (overall), significantly higher among statin users (26.3% vs. 19.5% P<0.01 from PSM; OR=1.49 CI 1.06–2.08 P=0.02 from MV). No significant impact of statin use was observed among GT2 (overall SVR – 55.8%, statin users vs. non-users – 53.9% vs. 57.7%, P=0.32), and GT3 (overall SVR – 58.7%, statin users vs. non-users – 60.9% vs. 56.2%, P=0.39) patients. Higher baseline LDL was positively associated with SVR while statin use reduced ALT during treatment in GT1 patients.

In view of additional benefits of statins, and the prohibitive cost of newer HCV therapies, statins could be a potential assist for hard-to-treat GT1 patients especially in resource-poor settings.