Statins may keep asthma patients out of ER - study

Asthma sufferers taking statins in addition to their regular medicine required significantly fewer trips to the hospital, according to a study the provides the latest suggestion of added benefits from the widely-used cholesterol lowering drugs. Among adults on inhaled corticosteroids in the 6,574-patient study, those also taking statins reduced their chances of an asthma-related hospitalization or emergency room visit by 33 percent, according to data presented at the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology meeting in Washington on Saturday. The study was conducted by researchers from Medco Health Solutions Inc. and Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital - Reuters