[Role of statins in clinical evolution of octogenarian patients admitted due to COVID-19]

coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes high mortality in elderly patients. Some studies have shown a benefit of statin treatment in the evolution of this disease. Since there are no similar publications in this population group, the aim of this study is to analyze in-hospital mortality in relation to preadmission treatment with statins in an exclusively elderly population of octogenarian patients.

A single-center retrospective cohort study was performed including a total of 258 patients ≥80 years with hospital admission for confirmed COVID-19 between March 1 and May 31, 2020. They were divided into two groups: taking statins prior to admission (n=129) or not (n=129).

In-hospital mortality due to COVID-19 in patients ≥80 years (86.13±4.40) during the first wave was 35.7% (95% CI: 30.1-41.7%). Mortality in patients previously taking statins was 25.6% while in those not taking statins was 45.7%. Female sex (RR 0.62 [0.44-0.89]; p=0.008), diabetes (RR 0.61 [0.41-0.92]; p=0.017) and pre-admission treatment with statins (RR 0.58 95% CI [0.41-0.83]; p=0.003) were associated with lower in-hospital mortality. Severe lung involvement was associated with increased in-hospital mortality (RR 1.45 95% CI [1.04-2.03]; p=0.028). Hypertension, obesity, age, cardiovascular disease and a higher Charlson index did not, however, show influence on in-hospital mortality.

In octogenarian patients treated with statins prior to admission for COVID-19 in the first wave, lower in-hospital mortality was observed.