RATIONALE: Statins exert a number of anti-inflammatory effects that may have a positive impact on asthma. This study explored the association of statin exposure with asthma-related events.
METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of the 12+ million life Medco National Integrated Database. Adult patients receiving index inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy between 1/2006 to 12/2006, and ≥1 hospitalization/emergency room (ER) visit for asthma (ICD9 493.XX) in the previous 12 months from index ICS prescription were selected. Patients were stratified by statin exposure following evidence of an index ICS prescription, and were followed for 12 months to assess the risk of the primary event endpoint of recurrent asthma-related hospitalization/ER visit.
RESULTS: A total of 6,574 patients were studied (4,471 statin-unexposed; 2,103 statin-exposed). Overall mean ± SD age was 61 ± 16 years, 29% were male, and 19% had ≥2 asthma hospitalization/ER events in the previous 12 months. Additional asthma therapy included 63% short-acting beta agonists, 37% long-acting beta agonists, and 38% leukotriene modifiers. Hospitalization/ER event incidence was 29.4% in statin-unexposed patients versus 20.5% in statin-exposed patients [univariate odds ratio 0.62 (95% CI 0.55-0.70); p < 0.001]. The multivariate odds ratio controlling for age, gender, previous asthma events and asthma therapy, was 0.67 (95% CI 0.58-0.76; p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS: Statin exposure was independently associated with a significant 33% relative risk reduction for recurrent asthma-related hospitalization/ER events over 12 months in this analysis of ICS-treated adult asthmatics. Further study of the potential benefit of statins on asthma outcomes is warranted.
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© 2009 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
