title: A prospective, randomized study: Evaluation of the effect of rosuvastatin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Statins by their anti-inflammatory and endothelial stabilizing effect can be beneficial in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH). The present study was done to evaluate the effect of rosuvastatin on pulmonary functions and quality of life (QOL) in patients with concomitant COPD and PH.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, study conducted in patients with COPD and PH. A total of sixty patients were assigned to receive either rosuvastatin 10 mg or placebo once a day in addition to their conventional treatment for 12 weeks. Routine blood investigations, pulmonary functions, echocardiogram, exercise capacity, and QOL using a questionnaire were assessed at the baseline and after 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients of rosuvastatin group, there was a statistically significant increase in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) (P= 0.04) but no significant change in other pulmonary functions: Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC), and echocardiogram parameters. There was a significant increase in 6-min walk test (6-min walk distance) (P= 0.03) at the end of 12 weeks. On comparing with placebo, rosuvastatin showed a significant reduction (P= 0.045) in COPD exacerbations while adverse effects did not differ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statins have a favorable effect on patients with COPD and PH regarding the improvement in PEFR, COPD exacerbations, and exercise capacity. Such effects can be beneficial in these patients and more so in patients with concomitant coronary artery disease or hyperlipidemia where long-term benefits of statins have been established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Bharti
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chogtu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sanitha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuriachan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magazine
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: K Ranjan
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Asha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Manu Mathew
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Amruta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tripathy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: D Mahesh
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium
keywords: Borg's dyspnea score; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; echocardiogram; hyperlipidemia; pulmonary function tests; quality of life