Can simvastatin reduce COPD exacerbations? A randomised double-blind controlled study

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that statins have beneficial effects in COPD regarding lung function decline, rates and severity of exacerbation, hospitalisation and need for mechanical ventilation. METHODS: placebo in patients with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criteria grades 2-4 at a tertiary care pulmonology department in Austria. Scheduled treatment duration was 12 months and the main outcome parameter was time to first exacerbation. RESULTS: 29). CONCLUSION: In our single-centre RCT, simvastatin at a dose of 40 mg daily significantly prolonged time to first COPD exacerbation and reduced exacerbation rate.