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New study shows statins reduce pneumonia risk

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Many individuals who have received unhealthy cholesterol test results are given a prescription for a statin medication. These drugs have been shown to powerfully lower cholesterol levels. Now, new research indicates that they may also reduce a person's chances of developing pneumonia.

For the study, a team of researchers from Harvard Medical School analyzed the health records of nearly 18,000 individuals over a two-year period. The results showed that those who were taking statin medications were 17 percent less likely to develop pneumonia during the study period.

The researchers recognized the fact that this is a relatively moderate reduction in risk. However, they noted that this isn't the first study to show that statins reduce infection risk. Previous investigations have come to similar conclusions regarding the medications and a person's chances of developing a bacterial infection.

Therefore, the researchers recommended that further investigations be conducted to develop an understanding of how statins support immune health and reduce infection risk. This is a necessary step before the medications can be prescribed for those facing a high risk of bacterial infection.