Study Adds Fuel to the Debate on Statins and Respiratory Illness

— Fewer pneumonia hospitalizations, but more flu-like illness in primary care

August 21, 2026

• 2 min read

Past research has been mixed on associations between statins and risks for acute respiratory infections such as the flu.This cohort study of older adults found that statin use was linked to lower hospitalization risks for pneumonia and other respiratory infections, but not for the flu.Conversely, in the primary care, statins were linked to greater risks for influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infections.

Older adults starting on statins had a lower hospitalization risk for pneumonia and other respiratory infections, yet more frequently showed up with respiratory illness in the primary care setting, findings from a U.K. population-based cohort study indicated.