Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is is a combination of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It affects over 13.5 million Americans, and is the fourth leading cause of death in the USA. Because the decreased lung function in COPD has been linked to increased inflammation and oxidative stress, Harvard scientists decided to study the use of statins in the disease - they have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The results of the study have been published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care.

The patient population was 803 elderly men. Lung function was measured using the Forced Expiratory Volume over one minute (FEV-1) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) 2-4 times over a 10-year period. Statin use and smoking status was recorded at each visit.

Those participants not using statins had the expected declines in lung function; their FEV-1 declined 24 mL and their FVC 34 mL annually. These decreases were slower in the statin-users: FEV-1 declined 12mL and FVC 15 mL per year. To determine the effect of smoking, further analyses were done. The size of the statins' beneficial effect was lessened in all categories of smokers - long-time quitters, recent quitters, and current smokers - with long-term quitters having the best results of the three.

These findings go along with recent reports of good results with the drug class in rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, confirming their anti-inflammatory action.

After stopping smoking, oxygen and pulmonary rehabilitation are the mainstays of treating COPD. A new approach would be welcome; further studies will show if statins (or a statin-like agent) are the answer.