ACE inhibitors, ARB2 inhibitors and statins at risk of pneumonia

In this Italian study, researchers evaluated the effect of ACE inhibitors, ARB-2s and/or statins on the risk of pneumonia and on the risk of short-term in-hospital and outpatient mortality in patients with pneumonia. A total of 5,717 patients were included in the study, all at least 65 years of age. Of these, 18% had pneumonia and 51% were taking ACE inhibitors, ARB-2s and/or statins. An inverse association was found between treatment with ACE inhibitors or ARB-2s and pneumonia. The effect was greater when antihypertensive treatment was combined with a statin.