Statins Slow Lung Damage in Smokers

Ivanhoe Newswire
Friday, October 27, 2006; 12:00 AM

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A common type of cholesterol-lowering drugs may slow the progression of lung damage in smokers.

New research from the University of Oklahoma Medical Center in Oklahoma City reveals statins can help both current and former smokers. Until now there has been no medication found to slow lung damage caused by smoking.

Researchers compared the effects of statins in 182 current smokers and 303 former smokers. 319 of the patients had obstructive lung disease, 99 had restrictive lung disease, and 67 had normal lung function.

Results show statins slowed the decline of lung function in the study participants no matter what type of lung disease they had and whether or not they stopped smoking. And patients with obstructive lung disease who took statins had 35-percent fewer respiratory-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

"It is conceivable that long-term statin therapy could be used in smokers and former smokers to prevent and slow the progression of lung diseases," reports Walid G. Younis, M.D., from the University of Oklahoma Medical Center. "Even though statins may help with lung function, they have no effect on preventing a patient from the major smoking-related killer, which is lung cancer. Therefore, smokers should never lose their incentive to quit smoking."

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SOURCE: CHEST 2006, the 72nd Annual International Scientific Assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians in Salt Lake City, Oct. 21-26, 2006