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WASHINGTON - People who use statin drugs are less likely to die of influenza and chronic bronchitis, according to a study that shows yet another unexpected benefit of the cholesterol-lowering medications.
Their study of more than 76,000 people showed that those who had taken statins for at least 90 days had a much lower risk of dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, the technical name for emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Patients on statins also had a lower risk of dying from influenza or pneumonia, the researchers reported on Monday...

The original article can be found at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070409.wstatinz0409/BNStory?cid=al_gam_globeedge

The original article can found in the Media Doctor archives.

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what we said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

This story reports on possible benefits of statins in decreasing mortality from a variety of respiratory diseases. However the story completely neglects to mention the methodology of the study that produced these results and as a consequence it is extremely difficult to know how valid the results are. This type of report represents very sloppy journalism and doesn't help readers in any material way, other than give them unsubstantiated reasons for taking statins. I would say that this article borders on disease mongering, as it takes the issue of Bird Flu, and suggests that statins reduces influenza/pneumonia death (noting that an influenza pandemic is "inevitable") as well as the risk of COPD death. There may well be better reasons for taking statins, but alarming the reader and preying on fears of a flu pandemic seem to be wholly unnecessary.

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