Can simvastatin reduce COPD exacerbations? A randomised double-blind controlled study.

Background: Several studies have shown that statins have beneficial effects in COPD regarding lung function decline, rates and severity of exacerbation, hospitalisation and need for mechanical ventilation.

Methods: We performed a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled single-centre trial of simvastatin at a daily dose of 40 mg placebo in patients with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criteria grades 2-4 at a tertiary care pulmonology department in Austria. Scheduled treatment duration was 12 months and the main outcome parameter was time to first exacerbation.