# 647
The idea that statins, common cholesterol lower drugs, could save lives in a pandemic isn't new. In fact, I blogged on it back in June of 2006, when Dr. David Fedson began pushing the idea, and have mentioned it several times since then.
Today, we have some more evidence that these drugs may well be helpful, although we aren't sure exactly how much benefit they will provide.
Statin drugs lower respiratory death risk
POSTED: 9:26 p.m. EDT, April 9, 2007
Story Highlights
• People on statins had lower death risk from emphysema, chronic bronchitis
• Statins patients also had a lower risk of dying from influenza or pneumonia
• Study supports theory that statins might help patients with H5N1 avian influenza
• Statins, including Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor, are world's best-selling drugs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- People who use statin drugs are less likely to die of influenza and chronic bronchitis, according to a study that shows yet another unexpected benefit of the cholesterol-lowering medications.
Their study of more than 76,000 people showed that those who had taken statins for at least 90 days had a much lower risk of dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, the technical name for emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Patients on statins also had a lower risk of dying from influenza or pneumonia, the researchers reported Monday.
Statins -- which include Pfizer Inc.'s $10 billion-a-year Lipitor, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s Pravachol and Merck and Co. Inc.'s Zocor -- are the world's best-selling drugs, taken by millions to reduce the risk of heart attack.
The new study supports a theory proposed last year that statin drugs might help patients with H5N1 avian influenza, which some studies suggest kills by causing an immune system overreaction called a cytokine storm.
For those who are interested in a more detailed explanation, rather than reinvent a perfectly good wheel, I'd direct you to SophiaZoe's blog entry on Statins.
