Can Cholesterol Statin Drugs Prevent Sinus Infections?

Lipitor is one example of a common statin drug

Prior to 2020, I would have said that it would be preposterous to think that cholesterol medications can influence chronic sinus infections in any way.

But a 2020 study published in Laryngoscope determined that statin drugs actually decrease the frequency of chronic sinus infections. Nobody understands why that may be.

The effect is relatively small, but definitely present. The population based study found that in those taking a statin, chronic sinus infections accounted for an estimated 0.87% of doctor visit records whereas chronic sinusitis accounted for an estimated 1.61% of doctor visit records among those NOT taking a statin. Though the percentages are relatively small, there is a doubling of the risk.

So if you have high cholesterol... taking a statin drug now as a double benefit!

Reference:

Statin use protective for chronic rhinosinusitis in a nationally representative sample of the United States. Laryngoscope , 130:848–851, 2020