Common cholesterol-lowering drugs could also protect against lung cancer and emphysema, researchers from the University of Auckland and Auckland City Hospital have found.
A review of more than 90 scientific papers involving over 750,000 patients showed people taking statins were 30 to 50 percent less likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer, they said.
Up to 50 percent of people were also less likely to die of complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), also known as smoker's lung or emphysema.
Lead researcher Associate Professor Robert Young said although randomised controlled trials had yet to be done, the review showed compelling evidence that statins significantly reduced the risk of lung cancer and improved survival in COPD patients.
Statins were the first drug to show such an effect, he said.
The researchers recommended that statins should be considered in all patients who had smoked and had evidence of lung damage (COPD).
Dr Young said he would present his work on the new clinical use for statins at this month's American Thoracic Society Meeting in the United States.
