COPD-PH: statins improve SPAP and 6-minute walk distance

Takeaway

• Statins improve systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) in patients with COPD plus pulmonary hypertension (COPD+PH) as a comorbidity, according to a small meta-analysis.

Why this matters

• 5-year survival rate was only 36% in patients with COPD with a mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of >25 mm Hg vs 62% in patients with an mPAP of <25 mm Hg.

Study design

• Meta-analysis of 5 randomised controlled trails (RCTs; n=270) after a search of MEDLINE, Cochrane, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus.
• Funding: None disclosed.

Key results

• Statins reduced SPAP (weighted mean difference [WMD], −4.52 [95% CI, −6.32 to −2.72] mm Hg; I²=0%) relative to placebo.
• Statins (vs placebo) increased 6MWD (WMD, 32.46 [95% CI, 13.63-51.29] m; I²=73%).
• Statins (vs placebo) did not improve forced expiratory volume in 1 second (WMD, 2.58%; 95% CI, −4.89% to 10.05%; I²=0%).

Limitations

• Small number of studies, participants.
• No data on statin doses.