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Heart Drugs Don't Slow Lung Disease |
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MONDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDayNews) -- Treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and/or statins did not improve survival for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), says a Mayo Clinic study.
IPF is an inflammatory lung disease characterized by abnormal formation of fibrous tissue in the lungs. Median survival after diagnosis is less than three years.
Previous studies indicated that ACE inhibitors and statins, used to treat high blood pressure and cholesterol, respectively, may slow the progression of IPF.
This new study included 82 people with IPF receiving either ACE inhibitors and/or statins. It found that median survival for patients receiving ACE inhibitors was 2.2 years, compared to 2.9 years for those not taking ACE inhibitors.
Median survival was 2.9 years for patients taking statins and for those not taking statins.
Median survival was 2.5 years for patients taking ACE inhibitors or statins, compared to three years for patients taking neither treatment.
The study appears in the August issue of Chest.
More information
The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis has more about IPF.
(SOURCE: Chest, news release, Aug. 9, 2004)
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