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Statins, drugs that are commonly used to prevent heart attacks and lower the blood's cholesterol levels, may also reduce the risk of blood clot formation in the veins by 25 percent, a new study said.

In a new study published in the journal The Lancet Haematology, a team of researchers at the University of Leicester found that statins could hold the key to eradicating one of the most preventable causes of hospital deaths after researchers uncovered a new role for the cholesterol-lowering pill.

Clinical Benefit Of Statin In The Occurrence Of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)

To land to their findings, the researchers followed a thorough analysis of 36 studies involving more than 3.2 million people as part of a new research.

A condition affecting millions across the globe, venous thromboembolism (VTE), happens when there are blood clots that form in the vein in the lungs or in the limbs. The study, however, shows that taking statins could reduce the threat of this condition by about 15 to 25 percent.

The study provides an extensive body of evidence on the clinical benefit of statins in the occurrence of VTE. The new finding could pave the way for the development of new guidelines and the expansion of the use of the drug, which is already established in cardiovascular disease prevention.

"Currently, statins are only approved for lipid lowering in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.But they have shown great promise beyond their established lipid-lowering effects and these include a potentially beneficial impact on multiple disease conditions," Dr. Setor Kunutsor, lead researcher from the University of Bristol's Musculoskeletal Research Unit, said in a press release.

"These results provide an extensive body of evidence on the clinical benefit of statin in the occurrence of VTE and may support a true protective effect," he added.

What Is Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)?

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the formation of blood clots in the vein. When the clot forms in a deep vein, which are usually found in the leg, it is called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, if the clot breaks loose, it might travel to the lungs causing pulmonary embolism.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), blood clots form when something slows or changes the flow of blood in the veins. These clots could cause potentially-fatal complications if they travel to the arteries in the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs or limbs. They can cause heart attack, damage to the body's organs, stroke or even death.