Association Between Statin Use Prior to Admission and Lower Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Severity in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease or Risk Factors

Circ J. 2021 May 25;85(6):939-943. doi: 10.1253/circj.CJ-21-0087. Epub 2021 Apr 29.

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular diseases and/or risk factors (CVDRF) have been reported as risk factors for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods and Results:In total, we selected 693 patients with CVDRF from the CLAVIS-COVID database of 1,518 cases in Japan. The mean age was 68 years (35% females). Statin use was reported by 31% patients at admission. Statin users exhibited lower incidence of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) insertion (1.4% vs. 4.6%, odds ratio [OR]: 0.295, P=0.037) and septic shock (1.4% vs. 6.5%, OR: 0.205, P=0.004) despite having more comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus.

Conclusions: This study suggests the potential benefits of statins use against COVID-19.

Keywords: Cardiovascular risk factors; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Statin.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / therapy*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Databases, Factual
  • Dyslipidemias / diagnosis
  • Dyslipidemias / drug therapy*
  • Dyslipidemias / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Heart Disease Risk Factors
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Admission*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors