Statins can make asthma worse

This study was presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting: Abstract 30. November 6, 2011.

Study title and author:
Statins can make asthma worse
Safa Nsouli, MD
Danville Asthma and Allergy Clinic in California.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/753504

This statins investigated the association of statins with asthma. The study, which lasted 12 months, compared 20 patients with asthma who were taking statins with 20 matched patients who were not taking statins.

The study found:
(a) In statin patients the forced expiratory volume in 1 second decreased by an extra 21% compared to patients not taking statins. (Forced expiratory volume in 1 second is the amount of air which can be forcibly exhaled from the lungs in the first second of a forced exhalation).
(b) In statin patients the peak expiratory flow decreased by an extra 28% compared to patients not taking statins. (Peak expiratory flow rate is the maximum flow rate generated during a forceful exhalation, starting from full lung inflation. Peak flow rate primarily reflects large airway flow and depends on the voluntary effort and muscular strength of the patient).
(c) The use of beta-agonist rescue inhalers was 63% higher in the statin group than in the nonstatin group.
(d) In statin patients the incidence of night time wakening increased by an extra 28% compared to patients not taking statins.
(e) In statin patients the incidence of daytime asthma symptoms increased by an extra 32% compared to patients not taking statins.

Dr Nsouli concluded: "Patients with asthma who are prescribed statins should be informed that, because of the adverse immunomodulatory effects that statins produce, their asthma might get worse".