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Role of Statins in Coronavirus-Related Disease (COVID-19): A Retrospective Cohort Study in Northern Italy

Salvatore Greco1, Andrea D'Amuri1, Enrico Giorgini1

  • 1Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari, 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.

High Blood Pressure & Cardiovascular Prevention : the Official Journal of the Italian Society of Hypertension
|April 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Statins did not worsen outcomes for older, sicker COVID-19 patients. Adjusted for age and comorbidities, statin therapy (ST) showed favorable survival functions compared to no statin therapy (NST).

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates effective treatments for the inflammatory response.
  • Statins, known for anti-inflammatory properties, were investigated for potential benefits in COVID-19 patients.
  • The specific impact of statin therapy on COVID-19 patient outcomes remained underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of pre-admission statin therapy on COVID-19 patient outcomes.
  • To compare clinical characteristics and survival functions between COVID-19 patients on statin therapy (ST) and those not on statin therapy (NST).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 501 adult COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals in Ferrara.
  • Patients were divided into ST and NST groups based on medication at admission.
  • Comparison of demographic, clinical, laboratory data, and COVID-19 outcomes between the two groups.

Main Results:

  • ST patients were older, had more comorbidities, lower procalcitonin, and higher CPK levels.
  • Male sex and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) predicted the need for care intensification.
  • Age was a predictor of in-hospital and 100-day mortality; survival functions differed between groups.

Conclusions:

  • Despite older age and higher comorbidity burden, ST patients exhibited similar survival functions to NST patients over 100 days.
  • When adjusted for age and CCI, statin therapy was associated with considerably more favorable survival functions.
  • Pre-admission statin use may offer a survival benefit in COVID-19 patients, particularly when accounting for age and comorbidities.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19HMG-CoA reductase inhibitorSARS-CoV-2StatinsSurvival functions

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