• Prateek Lohia, Shweta Kapur, Sindhuri Benjaram, and Tanveer Mir.
• Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States. Electronic address: plohia@med.wayne.edu.
• J Clin Lipidol. 2021 May 1; 15 (3): 451-459.

BackgroundStatins have been associated with a reduction in inflammatory markers and improved endothelial function. Whether statins offer any benefit in COVID-19 needs to be elucidated.ObjectiveTo determine the association between antecedent statin use and severe disease outcomes among COVID-19 patients.MethodsA retrospective cohort study on 1014 patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Outcomes were mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, and intensive care admission. Patients were classified into statin-users vs statin non-users based on antecedent use of statins. Multivariable regression analysis was performed adjusting for confounders such as age, sex, race, BMI, smoking, insurance, and comorbidities. Propensity score matching was performed to achieve a 1:1 balanced cohort.ResultsA total of 1014 patients (Median age 65 (IQR 53-73); 530 (52.3%) males; 753 (74.3%) African Americans; median BMI 29.4 (IQR 25.1-35.9); 615 (60.7%) with Medicare insurance) were included in the study. About 454 patients (44.77%) were using statins as home medication. Antecedent statin use was associated with significant decrease in mortality in the total cohort (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.46 - 0.95; p = 0.03). Among the propensity score matched (PSM) cohort of 466 patients (233 statin users and 233 statin non-users), all the baseline characteristics had similar distribution among the two groups. Statin users had significant reduction in mortality in the PSM cohort as well (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.37 - 0.83; p = 0.004).ConclusionsStatin use was associated with significant reduction in mortality among COVID-19 patients. These findings support the pursuit of randomized clinical trials to explore the possible benefits of statins in COVID-19.Copyright © 2021 National Lipid Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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