The Effect of Statins in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition of the lungs which results in
breathing difficulties due to the lungs becoming inflamed and the airways narrowed. Current
treatments have focused on opening up the narrowed airways but, in addition, we know there is
increased inflammation in the blood and these patients are at increased risk of heart
disease. Statins, simvastatin being one of them, are drugs used to lower cholesterol in the
blood but may also reduce inflammation and lower the risk of heart disease. This study will
explore whether simvastatin reduces one of the risk factors in patients with COPD in a short
term proof of principle study. The key purpose is to determine whether simvastatin improves
the pressure and stiffness of the main blood vessels namely the arterial stiffness measure of
aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). In parallel, we will describe changes in airways and / or
blood inflammation and change in breathing ability