Miami (March 13, 2025) – For current and former smokers, statins may reduce the amount of chest muscle loss, while aspirin may contribute to increased chest muscle loss, according to a new study. The study is published in the January 2025 issue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, a peer-reviewed, open-access journal.
Many people who are current or former smokers are prescribed statins to manage high cholesterol and aspirin to manage heart disease. Research has shown that current or former smokers experience increased skeletal muscle loss, especially in people with COPD.
COPD is an inflammatory lung disease, comprising several conditions, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and can be caused by genetics and irritants like smoke or pollution. The disease affects more than 30 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide.
This new study sought to determine if these common medications are associated with skeletal muscle loss. Researchers examined chest CT imaging data from the COPD Genetic Epidemiology (COPDGene®) study to determine loss in pectoralis muscle area and pectoralis muscle density. This study included 4,191 participants who had reported medication and chest CT scan data for both COPDGene phase 1 and phase 2 visits.
“Current and former smokers have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes and are commonly prescribed statins and aspirin to treat these conditions. By examining the impact of these medications on pectoralis muscle area and density, we found that statins can potentially reduce chest muscle loss, while aspirin may contribute to increased chest muscle loss,” said Toru Shirahata, M.D., a pulmonologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School and lead author of the study. “By further examining the impact of statins and aspirin on skeletal muscle mass, health care providers may be able to better personalize treatments to improve outcomes for these patients.”
To access current and past issues of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD Foundation, visit journal.copdfoundation.org.
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About the COPD Foundation
The COPD Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help millions of people live longer and healthier lives by advancing research, advocacy, and awareness to stop COPD, bronchiectasis, and NTM lung disease. The Foundation does this through scientific research, education, advocacy, and awareness to prevent disease, slow progression, and find a cure. For more information, visit copdfoundation.org, or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Journal
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases Journal of the COPD Foundation
Article Title
Effect of Common Medications on Longitudinal Pectoralis Muscle Area in Smokers
Article Publication Date
4-Dec-2024
COI Statement
AAD reports grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute(NHLBI) (R01-HL149861, R01-HL164824), USPT patent pending “NOVEL ASSAYS TO DETECT RESPIRATORY DISEASES AND DISORDERS.” JC reports funding support from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Heersink School of Medicine, Department of Medicine. BC reports grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Lung Association, and consulting fees from Quantitative Imaging Solutions. MNM reports grant from the NIH. SYA reports grant support from the NHLBI (K08-HL145118) and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, consultant fees from Verona Pharmaceuticals and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and ownership from Quantitative Imaging Solutions, a company specializing in imaging analytics in the lung cancer space. RSJE reports grants from the NHLBI, contracts with Lung Biotechnology and Insmed, a sponsored research agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim, consulting fees from Leuko Labs and Mount Sinai, and a patent pending in the area of lung cancer risk assessment using machine learning technology. He is cofounder and stockholder of Quantitative Imaging Solutions, and a board member of Fundación MVision. GRW has received institutional funding from the NIH, the Department of Defense and Boehringer-Ingelheim, and has received consultant fees from Vertex, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Pieris Therapeutics, Intellia Therapeutics, and Regeneron. He is a cofounder and equity share holder in Quantitative Imaging Solutions. His spouse works for Biogen. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.