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Labib HA, Ali RM, Tharwat AI. Can statins reduce mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients? A retrospective cohort study. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF ANAESTHESIA 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/11101849.2023.2173205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Heba A. Labib
- Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care, and Pain Management, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Rania M. Ali
- Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care, and Pain Management, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ayman I. Tharwat
- Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care, and Pain Management, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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Tan B, Chin KY. Potential role of geranylgeraniol in managing statin-associated muscle symptoms: a COVID-19 related perspective. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1246589. [PMID: 38046949 PMCID: PMC10691100 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1246589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Myopathy is the most common side effect of statins, but it has not been addressed effectively. In anticipation of its wider use as a small molecule to complement the current COVID-19 management, a pharmacological solution to statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) is warranted. Statins act by suppressing the mevalonate pathway, which in turn affects the downstream synthesis of isoprenoids required for normal physiological functions. CoQ10 and geranylgeraniol (GG) syntheses are reduced by statin use. However, CoQ10 supplementation has not been shown to reverse SAMS. GG is an obligatory substrate for CoQ10 synthesis, an endogenous nutrient critical for skeletal muscle protein synthesis. Multiple studies showed GG supplementation is effective in reversing SAMS. This opinion paper proposes employing GG to prevent SAMS in pleiotropic statin use, including usage in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barrie Tan
- American River Nutrition, Hadley, MA, United States
| | - Kok-Yong Chin
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Treating COVID-19: Targeting the Host Response, Not the Virus. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13030712. [PMID: 36983871 PMCID: PMC10054780 DOI: 10.3390/life13030712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), inexpensive generic drugs like statins, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs, especially if used in combination, might be the only practical way to save the lives of patients with severe COVID-19. These drugs will already be available in all countries on the first pandemic day. Because they target the host response to infection instead of the virus, they could be used to save lives during any pandemic. Observational studies show that inpatient statin treatment reduces 28–30-day mortality but randomized controlled trials have failed to show this benefit. Combination treatment has been tested for antivirals and dexamethasone but, with the exception of one observational study in Belgium, not for inexpensive generic drugs. Future pandemic research must include testing combination generic drug treatments that could be used in LMICs.
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Antonazzo IC, Fornari C, Rozza D, Conti S, Di Pasquale R, Cortesi PA, Kaleci S, Ferrara P, Zucchi A, Maifredi G, Silenzi A, Cesana G, Mantovani LG, Mazzaglia G. Statins Use in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases and COVID-19 Outcomes: An Italian Population-Based Cohort Study. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11247492. [PMID: 36556112 PMCID: PMC9781425 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11247492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of statins among patients with established cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) who are hospitalized with COVID-19 is still debated. This study aimed at assessing whether the prior use of statins was associated with a less severe COVID-19 prognosis. METHODS Subjects with CVDs infected with SARS-CoV-2 and hospitalized between 20 February 2020 and 31 December 2020 were selected. These were classified into two mutually exclusive groups: statins-users and non-users of lipid-lowering therapies (non-LLT users). The relationship between statins exposure and the risk of Mechanical Ventilation (MV), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) access and death were evaluated by using logistic and Cox regressions models. RESULTS Of 1127 selected patients, 571 were statins-users whereas 556 were non-LLT users. The previous use of statins was not associated with a variation in the risk of need of MV (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.00; 95% Confidence Intervals [CI]: 0.38-2.67), ICU access (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.22-1.32) and mortality at 14 days (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.16-1.10). However, a decreased risk of mortality at 30 days (HR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.18-0.85) was observed in statins-users compared with non-LLT users. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the clinical advice for patients CVDs to continue their treatment with statins during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carla Fornari
- Research Centre on Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Davide Rozza
- Research Centre on Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Sara Conti
- Research Centre on Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Angelo Cortesi
- Research Centre on Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Shaniko Kaleci
- Research Centre on Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Pietro Ferrara
- Research Centre on Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
- IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20145 Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Zucchi
- Health Protection Agency of Bergamo (ATS Bergamo), 24121 Bergamo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Maifredi
- Health Protection Agency of Brescia (ATS Brescia), 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Silenzi
- General Directorate of Health Prevention, Ministry of Health, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Cesana
- Research Centre on Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Giovanni Mantovani
- Research Centre on Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
- IRCCS, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20145 Milan, Italy
| | - Giampiero Mazzaglia
- Research Centre on Public Health, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
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Lao US, Law CF, Baptista-Hon DT, Tomlinson B. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Statin Use and Mortality, Intensive Care Unit Admission and Requirement for Mechanical Ventilation in COVID-19 Patients. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11185454. [PMID: 36143101 PMCID: PMC9501062 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11185454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
There is mounting evidence that statin use is beneficial for COVID-19 outcomes. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between statin use and mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 patients, on studies which provided covariate adjusted effect estimates, or performed propensity score matching. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus for studies and extracted odds or hazard ratios for specified outcome measures. Data synthesis was performed using a random-effects inverse variance method. Risk of bias, heterogeneity and publication bias were analyzed using standard methods. Our results show that statin use was associated with significant reductions in mortality (OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.67–0.77; HR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.69, 0.79), ICU admission (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89–0.99; HR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.60–0.96) and mechanical ventilation (OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.78–0.92; HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.47–0.97). Nevertheless, current retrospective studies are based on the antecedent use of statins prior to infection and/or continued use of statin after hospital admission. The results may not apply to the de novo commencement of statin treatment after developing COVID-19 infection. Prospective studies are lacking and necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ut-Sam Lao
- Center for Biomedicine and Innovations, Faculty of Medicine, Macau University Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Chak-Fun Law
- Center for Biomedicine and Innovations, Faculty of Medicine, Macau University Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Daniel T. Baptista-Hon
- Center for Biomedicine and Innovations, Faculty of Medicine, Macau University Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
- Division of Systems Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK
- Correspondence: (D.T.B.-H.); (B.T.)
| | - Brian Tomlinson
- Center for Biomedicine and Innovations, Faculty of Medicine, Macau University Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau SAR 999078, China
- Correspondence: (D.T.B.-H.); (B.T.)
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