No Independent Influence of Statins on the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation Rate: A Cohort Observation Study Over 10 Years

PURPOSE: Some previously published primarily retrospective studies have shown that statins could reduce the rate and severity of exacerbations, the length of hospital stays, and mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but retrospective data needs to be reviewed regarding this connection since statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the independent influence of statins on the exacerbation rate in COPD patients. METHODS: An observational retrospective study was conducted to assess the independent influence of statins on the COPD exacerbation rate at the Department of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Division, Internal Intensive Care Medicine, Infectiology, and Sleep Medicine, Märkische Clinics Health Holding Ltd, Clinic Lüdenscheid, Witten/Herdecke University from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2020. This study enrolled patients with COPD in 2010 and documented their exacerbation rate over a further 10 years. The number of exacerbations in COPD patients was compared between statin users and non-users. RESULTS: Of the total of 295 [176 male (59.7%)] COPD patients, 105 (35.6%, CI 30.3–41.2%) patients with COPD were treated with statins, and 190 (64.4%, CI 58.8–69.7%) were treated without statins. The mean exacerbation rate in the COPD patients who received statin did not differ from that in the COPD patients who did not receive statin (p = 0.175). Also, the mortality rates did not differ between the statin-treated and non-statin-treated COPD patients (p = 0.271). CONCLUSION: Statins have no effect on the exacerbation rate or mortality in COPD patients.