Comparison of symptoms (ACQ, ACT), quality of life (AQLQ), bronchodilator use, lung function (PEF and FEV1), airway hyper-responsiveness (PC20AMP) and airway inflammation (FENO and sputum cells) in all patients at ‘minimum’ dose while taking concomitant simvastatin 40 mg at night or placebo
| Simvastatin | Placebo | p Value | |
| ACQ | 0.3 (0.0–1.1) | 0.7 (0.3–1.2) | 0.171 |
| ACT | 22 (19–24) | 21 (18–24) | 0.425 |
| AQLQ | 6.7 (6.3–6.9) | 6.6 (5.9–6.8) | 0.150 |
| Salbutamol use (puffs/24 h) | 0 (0–0.8) | 0.2 (0–0.8) | 0.731 |
| Mean morning PEF (l/min) | 415 (110) | 408 (107) | 0.063 |
| Mean evening PEF (l/min) | 423 (112) | 418 (108) | 0.149 |
| Pre-BD FEV1 (litres) | 2.61 (0.72) | 2.62 (0.75) | 0.659 |
| Post-BD FEV1 (litres) | 2.92 (0.78) | 2.90 (0.79) | 0.539 |
| PC20AMP (mg/ml)* | 32.5 (17.8–59.7) | 46.3 (23.9–89.7) | 0.144 |
| FENO (ppb)* | 31.7 (26.4–38.2) | 27.3 (22.0–33.8) | 0.098 |
| Eosinophils (%) | 9.9 (5.7–27.0) | 22.7 (13.4–37.8) | 0.047 |
| Neutrophils (%) | 23.6 (9.1–47.4) | 14.5 (6.3–27.5) | 0.030 |
| Macrophages (%) | 33.0 (19.3–57.0) | 36.3 (25.1–55.8) | 0.400 |
| Lymphocytes (%) | 0.7 (0.3–1.8) | 0.7 (0.0–1.5) | 0.429 |
Comparisons are by paired t tests (presented as mean (SD)) and Wilcoxon signed rank tests (presented as median (IQR)).
p Values are for comparisons between simvastatin and placebo; significant values are in bold.
↵* Analysed by paired t test after logarithmic transformation; results presented as geometric mean (95% CI).
ACQ, Asthma Control Questionnaire; ACT, Asthma Control Test; AQLQ, Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire; BD, bronchodilator; FENO, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 s; PC20AMP, provocation concentration of AMP causing a 20% fall in FEV1; PEF, peak expiratory flow.