title: Statin use and hospitalization in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a nationwide population-based cohort study in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statins have been widely prescribed to treat hyperlipidemia, and can be used for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Several studies have shown that statins have antiinflammatory effects in addition to cholesterol-lowering properties. There is new evidence suggesting that statins have beneficial effects on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is characterized by a persistent inflammatory response.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the association between statins and COPD by using the Taiwan National Health Insurance database.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a nationwide population-based cohort study. A total of 6252 newly diagnosed COPD patients (median age, 64 years; 50.3% male) who received statins for hyperlipidemia treatment were identified from the 1 million sampling cohort dataset between January 2000 and December 2007. Another 12,469 newly diagnosed COPD patients (median age, 64 years; 50.3% male) who were matched for age, gender, and medication for COPD treatment, except for statin use, were enrolled as the control group. The end point of the study was hospitalization due to COPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During an average of 4.58 (2.36) years' follow-up period, there were 1832 patients who experienced hospitalization for COPD exacerbation (statin vs control = 508 [8.1%] vs 1324 [10.6%]; P = 0.001). Statin use was independently associated with the decreased risk of COPD hospitalization (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.60-0.74; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the selected Taiwanese population, statins were associated with reduced hospitalization due to COPD in patients newly diagnosed with COPD, suggesting a potential beneficial effect of statins in patients with COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research and Education, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chin-Chou
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wan-Leong
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yu-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tzeng-Ji
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kun-Ta
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Shing-Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Jaw-Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hsin-Bang
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Leu
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors