Jump to full article: Reuters, 2007-01-23
Intro: Cholesterol-lowering drugs may improve the survival of patients suffering from a deadly lung disease that afflicts 44 million people worldwide, Norwegian scientists said on Wednesday.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes bronchitis and emphysema, is an incurable illnesses caused by smoking. It begins with a cough that leads to shortness of breath and difficulty breathing as it destroys the lungs.
But researchers from Akershus University Hospital in Lorenskog in Norway have found that statins can reduce deaths in COPD patients whose condition has exacerbated or worsened.
"The present study shows that the use of statins is associated with improved survival after chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation," said Vidar Soyseth in a report in the European Respiratory Journal.
Jump to full article » |