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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Sep-Oct;48(5):503-508.
doi: 10.4103/0253-7613.190721.

A prospective, randomized study: Evaluation of the effect of rosuvastatin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary hypertension

Bharti Chogtu  1 , Sanitha Kuriachan  1 , Rahul Magazine  2 , K Ranjan Shetty  3 , Asha Kamath  4 , Manu Mathew George  1 , Amruta Tripathy  1 , D Mahesh Kumar  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A prospective, randomized study: Evaluation of the effect of rosuvastatin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary hypertension

Bharti Chogtu et al. Indian J Pharmacol. 2016 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Objectives: 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.

Materials and 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.

Conclusion: 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.

Keywords: Borg's dyspnea score; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; echocardiogram; hyperlipidemia; pulmonary function tests; quality of life.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean change of pulmonary function parameters from baseline between groups at 12 weeks
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean change of 6-min walk distance from baseline between groups at 12 weeks
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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