Statin use in asthmatics on inhaled corticosteroids is associated with decreased risk of emergency department visits. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tse, Sze Man; Charland, Scott L.; Stanek, Eric; Herrera, Vivian; Goldfarb, Seth; Litonjua, Augusto A.; Weiss, Scott T.; Wu, Ann Chen
• Is Part Of: Current medical research and opinion. Volume 30:Number 4(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 685
• Page End: 693
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Therapeutics -- Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1185/03007995.2013.865599
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-7995

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ss1"> <title>Objective:</title> <p>Statins are hypothesized to have beneficial effects in asthma management through their pleiotropic anti-inflammatory effects. Several studies have examined this relationship, but have yielded conflicting results. This study investigates the effect of statin use on asthma-related hospitalizations and/or emergency department (ED) visits, and whether this relationship varies by concomitant inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) in a large cohort of asthma patients.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss2"> <title>Methods:</title> <p>Subjects with asthma, a recent history of asthma exacerbation, and who were 18 years or older were selected from the population-based Medco Health Solutions administrative database over a 1 year period. Prescription claims for statins and asthma medications, and asthma-related hospitalizations and/or ED visits were ascertained over a 12 month follow-up period. Subjects were stratified into two groups based on their ICS use.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss3"> <title>Results:</title> <p>A total of 3747 ICS users and 2905 non-ICS users were included in this study. Statin users represented 21% of ICS users and 11% of non-users. Among ICS users, statin use was significantly associated with decreased odds of asthma-related ED visits (OR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.64–0.94, <italic>p</italic> = 0.008), but not with asthma-related hospitalizations (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.92–1.30, <italic>p</italic> = 0.31). No significant associations were found among non-ICS users (for asthma-related ED visits: OR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.57–1.49, <italic>p</italic> = 0.73; asthma-related hospitalizations: OR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.85–1.41, <italic>p</italic> = 0.48). The statistical interactions between ICS and statin use on asthma-related hospitalizations and/or ED visits were not significant.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss4"> <title>Conclusion:</title> <p>Statin use is associated with fewer ED visits in asthma patients who are using ICS.</p> </sec> </abstract>