Statin Exposure Reduces Risk of Asthma-Related Hospitalizations and Emergency Room Visits in Asthmatic Patients on Inhaled Corticosteroids

Authors: E. Stanek,¹ R. Aubert,¹ F. Xia,¹ F. Frueh,¹ C. Sanders,¹ R. Epstein,¹ S. Weiss²

Presented on March 14, 2009 by Eric Stanek, PharmD of Medco at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 2009 Annual Meeting

Study in Brief:
- This study examined the impact of statin therapy in conjunction with inhaled corticosteroids on asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency room (ER) visits.

- The sample included 6,574 adult patients prescribed inhaled corticosteroid therapy for asthma in 2006 and who had one or more asthma-related hospitalizations or ER visits in the previous year.

- The one-year incidence of hospitalizations and ER visits among patients on statins in conjunction with inhaled corticosteroids was compared with those not using statins.

- The results showed that taking a statin with an inhaled corticosteroid was associated with a 33 percent reduced likelihood of asthma-related hospitalization and ER visits.

- A follow-up analysis of the cost of asthma-related events showed that statin therapy reduces asthma-related hospitalization costs by 18 percent, ER visit costs by 43 percent, and combined costs by 17 percent.

¹Medco Health Solutions, Inc, Franklin Lakes, NJ,
²Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, MA.