Statins could be beneficial for asthma patients

Do the wonders of cholesterol-lowering statins and their potential benefits ever seem to end? It would seem not according to yet another study to analyse their capabilities.

In just 2012 alone, Medical Specialists Pharmacy has reported countless stories regarding how statin medications such as Crestor and Lipitor, have been linked to the improvement in various health conditions for a much wider group of people than those merely with high cholesterol. For instance, in regards to statin therapy, these are some of the things we have learnt this year:

. They can lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

. Some doctors have argued that there should be ‘statins for all’ outlook.

. They can reduce the risk of a heart attack even in healthy individuals.
. Statins can lower risk of cancer in heart transplant patients.

. They have been shown to particularly be effective in decreasing the chance of a stroke in males.
The latest in a long line of studies into statins has come from researchers from the University of Mississippi in the US, and this time it is asthma patients who were investigated with statin therapy.
In total there were 479 asthma patients analysed who were taking both statins and using an inhaled corticosteroid such as Qvar Beclometasone, compared against 958 who were using just the corticosteroid.

It was deduced that a higher number of asthma patients required hospital treatment in the second group, who were not taking any statin medication. Researchers noted that 3.79% of the first group had required a hospital visit due to their asthma, whilst the figure was 6.47% for those not taking statins.

In addition, those who were on statins were found to be a lot less likely to end up at Accident and Emergency (A & E) at hospital. Just 4.18% of the first group had needed to go to A & E compared to 9.08% in the second group.

Consultant physician Dr Shahid Hamid from the Princess Royal University Hospital in Kent, was not directly involved in the study but he gave his views on it, saying, “We know statins have uses beyond the treatment of heart conditions. They have anti-inflammatory properties, which mean they have other – as yet mostly unexplored – purposes. Asthma is an inflammatory condition so clearly there is a link.”

Dr Hamid continued and suggested that more research needs to be done to understand more about the possible side effects of taking statins for asthma, and added, “It is still too soon to start prescribing statins as a matter of course. If you are on statins and have asthma, you must report any change in your condition.”

Poor lung function and vitamin D deficiency could be connected

A study published online in the July 12 edition of American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, has linked a deficiency of vitamin D to a worsening lung function in asthmatic children who are treated by the use of corticosteroid inhalers, such as Qvar Beclometasone or Easi-Breathe.

The study came about after researchers made the observation that the prevalence of both asthma and vitamin D deficiency have increased over the last few years. They then set about the task of uncovering any evidence that may suggest a link between these facts.

The 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were analysed in the serum of 1,024 children aged between 5 and 12 years old from the Childhood Asthma Management Program. Every child involved in the study was suffering from mild to moderate ‘persistent’ asthma and for the evaluations were randomly given either the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent nedocromil, budesonide (an inhaler corticosteroid), or a placebo.

It was determined by researchers that the children’s level of vitamin D would be judged as <20 ng/mL being deficient, 20 to 30 ng/mL being insufficient and >30 ng/mL would be classed as sufficient.

The results showed that 663 children (about 65%), 260 (about 25%), and 101 (about 10%) of the children in the study had vitamin D levels sufficient, insufficient and deficient, respectively. It was determined that those showing a deficient level of vitamin D were more likely to be older and black, or have a higher body mass index in comparison to those children who had ‘sufficient’ or ‘insufficient’ levels of vitamin D.

Ann Chen Wu, from the Harvard Medical School and one of the leading figures in the study, said, “In conclusion, vitamin D sufficiency in patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids is associated with improved lung function in patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma. Monitoring vitamin D levels and/or supplementing with vitamin D could be considered during inhaled corticosteroid treatment for patients with asthma.”

Dr Wu has acknowledged certain constraints with their study though. For example, the sample size of children with a deficient vitamin D level was particularly small. In addition, Dr Wu admits that the children’s vitamin D levels were analysed just once, this being upon entry into the trial.