Reno-protective effects of statins among patients with chronic kidney disease in Hong Kong: a target trial emulation

Background Many existing randomised controlled trials lack sufficient power to assess primary kidney outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate whether statin therapy offers a clinically meaningful reno-protective effect in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods In this retrospective cohort study, electronic health records in Hong Kong were extracted to perform sequential target trial emulation. Eligible adults (aged 18+ years) with CKD who met the indication for statin initiation between Jan 1, 2008 and Dec 31, 2017 were included; those with history of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 were excluded. Participants were categorised as statin initiators or non-initiators at each calendar month during inclusion period, where statin initiators were propensity score-matched with non-initiators. Follow-up data were collected for all participants until the occurrence of outcomes, death, loss to follow-up (2 years after last records), or the end of data availability (Dec 31, 2022), whichever occurred first. The hazard ratio (HR) of all-cause mortality, eGFR deterioration (eGFR