Statins as candidate therapeutic agents for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

COVID-19-associated rhabdomyolysis: A scoping review

OBJECTIVES

SARS-CoV-2 infection ("COVID-19") and the hypoxemia that has attended some cases may predispose to rhabdomyolysis. We sought to identify reported cases of COVID-19-associated rhabdomyolysis, examining concurrent risk factors (RFs) and mortality outcomes.

METHODS

We searched PubMed for articles conveying individual-level information on COVID-19-associated rhabdomyolysis, published between January 2020 and July 2022, with an English-language abstract. Two independent parties performed the search, and then abstracted information on cases including rhabdomyolysis RFs and mortality.

RESULTS

In total, 117 individual reported cases of COVID-19-associated rhabdomyolysis were identified from 89 articles. A total of 80 cases (68.4%) had at least one reported non-COVID-19 RF (i.e. not considering COVID-19 or hypoxemia). On average, 1.27 additional RFs were reported, including age ≥65, metabolic syndrome features, hypothyroidism, previous rhabdomyolysis, hemoglobinopathy, trauma/compression, pregnancy, exertion, inborn errors of metabolism, concurrent (co-)infection, capillary leak syndrome, and selected rhabdomyolysis-associated medications. Concurrent RFs are understated, as many articles omitted comorbidities/medications. Of 109 cases with ascertainable survival status, 31 (28%) died.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 and hypoxemia confer risk of rhabdomyolysis, but additional rhabdomyolysis RFs are commonly present. Mortality is substantial irrespective of the presence of such RFs. Clinicians should be aware of COVID-19-associated rhabdomyolysis, and caution may be warranted in administering agents that may amplify rhabdomyolysis risk.

Associated factors for discontinuation of statin use one year after discharge in patients with acute coronary syndrome in China

OBJECTIVES

To determine the associated factors for discontinuation of statin use 1 year after discharge in patients who survived from acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in China.

SETTINGS

75 hospitals across China.

DESIGN

A cohort follow-up study.

PARTICIPANTS

The study included 10 337 patients with ACS hospitalised in 2007-2010 and discharged with statins from 75 hospitals in China in the Clinical Pathways for Acute Coronary Syndromes in China Study-Phase 2 (CPACS-2), who were followed-up at 6 and 12 months postdischarge.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the discontinuation of statin use defined as not in current use of statin at either 6-month or 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Multivariable logistic regression model showed that patients who did not have cholesterol measurement (adjusted OR=1.29; 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.50) and patients with either higher (1.27; 1.13 to 1.43) or lower dose of statin (1.22; 1.07 to 1.40), compared with those with standard dose, were more likely to discontinue the use of statin. In addition, patients on the CPACS-2 intervention pathway (adjusted OR=0.83; 95% CI: 0.74 to 0.94), patients with medical insurance (0.75; 0.67 to 0.85), history of hypertension (0.83; 0.75 to 0.92), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.70; 0.57 to 0.87) at the baseline, prior statin use (0.73; 0.63 to 0.84), use of atorvastatin (0.78; 0.70 to 0.88) and those who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting during hospitalisation (0.47; 0.43 to 0.53) were less likely to discontinue statin use. The 1-year statin discontinuation rate decreased from 29.5% in 2007-2008 to 17.8% in 2010 (adjusted OR=0.60; 95% CI: 0.51 to 0.70).

CONCLUSION

Implementing clinical pathway, enhancing medical insurance coverage, strengthening health education in both physicians and patients, using statin at standard dosage may help improve the adherence to statin use after discharge in Chinese patients with ACS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12609000491268).