The effect of statins for asthma. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the effects of statins on asthma by systematically reviewing and conducting a meta-analysis on all clinical studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies, that examined the effects of statins on asthma.

Methods:

PubMed, EMBASE databases, and Cochrane reviews were searched to identify RCTs and observational studies, conducted through June 16, 2020, that assessed the effect of statins as a treatment for asthma. A meta-analysis was conducted using the following main outcomes: asthma control test (ACT), asthma control questionnaire (ACQ), pre- and post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak flow (PEF), and asthma exacerbation (asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalization).

Results:

Our search revealed 11 RCTs and 8 observational studies that met the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis demonstrated that statin treatment significantly improved ACT scores (mean difference: 1.61, P < 0.001) and ACQ scores (mean difference: −0.38, P < 0.001) compared to a placebo. Furthermore, statin treatment significantly reduced asthma-related ED visits (hazard ratio [HR], 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83 [0.75–0.92], P < 0.001, number needed to treat [NNT], 5.9). However, statin treatment did not improve pulmonary function (FEV1 and PEF).

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that statins have the potential to improve asthma control and reduce asthma exacerbation without any improvement in pulmonary function.

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at publisher’s website.

Keywords:

• ACQ
• ACT
• ED visits
• exacerbation
• hospitalization

Acknowledgements

We thank all the members of the pulmonary division of Keio University School of Medicine.

Disclosure statement

HK received a research grant from GSK Japan. KF received honoraria from Boehringer Ingelheim and AstraZeneca. All other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported in part by JSPS KAKENHI, Grant Number: JP20K18193.