Preadmission Statin Therapy and Clinical Outcome in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19: An Italian Multicenter Observational Study

Short-term efficacy of moderate-intensity rosuvastatin in coronavirus disease 2019 patients: A randomized clinical trial

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic persists, the exploration of adjunct therapies to mitigate disease severity remains a priority. Statins, known for their pleiotropic effects, have been under investigation for their potential role in managing COVID-19 complications. The study was conducted in a single referral hospital and adhered to Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guidelines. Eligible participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio into either the rosuvastatin group or the control group. Outcome measures included vital signs, laboratory data, clinical outcomes, and patient symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 26.0, IBM Corp., Armonk, New York). A total of 100 patients were enrolled. No significant differences were observed between the rosuvastatin and control groups in terms of baseline characteristics and laboratory parameters, except for the fact that rosuvastatin-treated patients showed lower levels of C-reactive protein in comparison with the controls on both the 1st and 5th days (38.1 ± 16.3 vs 50.5 ± 25.3) compared to the control group. Clinical outcomes, including hospital length of stay, intensive care unit admission, need for intubation, and 1-month mortality, did not differ significantly between the two groups. Symptom scales, as assessed by the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion and Leicester Cough Questionnaire, showed significant improvement in the rosuvastatin group compared to controls. Our study provides insights into the short-term efficacy of moderate-intensity rosuvastatin in COVID-19 patients. Further research is warranted to elucidate the long-term effects and optimal dosing of statins in COVID-19 management.

Investigational pharmacological agents for the treatment of ARDS

INTRODUCTION

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a heterogeneous form of lung injury with severe hypoxemia and bilateral infiltrates after an inciting event that results in diffuse lung inflammation with a high mortality rate. While research in COVID-related ARDS has resulted in several pharmacotherapeutic agents that have undergone successful investigation, non-COVID ARDS studies have not resulted in many widely accepted pharmacotherapeutic agents despite exhaustive research.

AREAS COVERED

The aim of this review is to discuss adjuvant pharmacotherapies targeting non-COVID Acute Lung Injury (ALI)/ARDS and novel therapeutics in COVID associated ALI/ARDS. In ARDS, variable data may support selective use of neuromuscular blocking agents, corticosteroids and neutrophil elastase inhibitors, but are not yet universally used. COVID-ALI/ARDS has data supporting the use of IL-6 monoclonal antibodies, corticosteroids, and JAK inhibitor therapy.

EXPERT OPINION

Although ALI/ARDS modifying pharmacological agents have been identified in COVID-related disease, the data in non-COVID ALI/ARDS has been less compelling. The increased use of more specific molecular phenotyping based on physiologic parameters and biomarkers, will ensure equipoise between groups, and will likely allow more precision in confirming pharmacological agent efficacy in future studies.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence and impact of coronary artery disease in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Background

COVID-19 accounts for more than half a billion deaths globally. The clinical manifestations may vary in due course. Despite several studies aimed at determining the extent to which the disease's severity and mortality remain high when combined with other comorbidities, more research is required. Therefore, this review aimed to measure the pooled prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) among COVID-19 patients, specifically those with a history of CAD. Additionally, we aim to assess the association between mortality due to CAD and the severity of COVID-19 among hospitalized patients.

Method

A comprehensive search in PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and the WHO COVID-19 database was conducted. English studies with original data on CAD, mortality, and ARDS among COVID-19 patients were included. PRISMA guidelines were followed.

Results

Among the 2007 identified articles, 76 studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of CAD among COVID-19 patients was 14.4%(95% CI: 12.7-16.2). The highest prevalence was observed in European studies at 18.2%(95% CI: 13.3-24.2), while the lowest was in Asian studies at 10.4% (95% CI: 6.4-16.3). Participants with concurrent CAD at the time of hospital admission had twice the odds of mortality due to COVID-19 (2.64 [95% CI: 2.30-3.04]) with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 45%, p < 0.01). Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with CAD had a 50% higher risk of ARDS (95% CI: 0.62-3.66), but this difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Although our analysis revealed evidence for a relationship between concurrent CAD at the time of hospital admission and mortality from COVID-19, however, global variation in health infrastructure, limitations of data reporting, and the effects of emerging variants must be considered in future investigations.

Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Pathophysiology and Translational Perspectives

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) may complicate the clinical course of patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is still unclear whether this condition is a direct consequence of the primary disease. However, several mechanisms including direct cellular damage, endothelial dysfunction, in-situ thrombosis, systemic inflammatory response, and oxygen supply-demand imbalance have been described in patients with COVID-19. The onset of a prothrombotic state may also be facilitated by the endothelial dysfunction secondary to the systemic inflammatory response and to the direct viral cell damage. Moreover, dysfunctional endothelial cells may enhance vasospasm and platelet aggregation. The combination of these factors promotes atherosclerotic plaque instability, thrombosis and, consequently, type 1 myocardial infarction. Furthermore, severe hypoxia due to extensive pulmonary involvement, in association with other conditions described in COVID-19 such as sepsis, tachyarrhythmias, anemia, hypotension, and shock, may lead to mismatch between oxygen supply and demand, and cause type 2 myocardial infarction. A deeper understanding of the potential pathophysiological mechanisms underlying ACS in patients with COVID-19 could help the therapeutic management of these very high-risk patients.

Late Onset Occurrence of Concomitant Myocardial Infarction and Ischemic Stroke in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patient: A Case Report

We described the case of a 68-year-old COVID-19 patient with hypertension and dyslipidemia who discontinued the cardiovascular medications during hospitalization and experienced a late onset occurrence of concomitant ST-elevation myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke at resolution of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

The impact of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors use on the clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with COVID-19: A multicenter, cohort study

Background

The cardiovascular complications of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be attributed to the hyperinflammatory state leading to increased mortality in patients with COVID-19. HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (statins) are known to have pleiotropic and anti-inflammatory effects and may have antiviral activity along with their cholesterol-lowering activity. Thus, statin therapy is potentially a potent adjuvant therapy in COVID-19 infection. This study investigated the impact of statin use on the clinical outcome of critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Methods

A multicenter, retrospective cohort study of all adult critically ill patients with confirmed COVID-19 who were admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021. Eligible patients were classified into two groups based on the statin use during ICU stay and were matched with a propensity score based on patient's age and admission APACHE II and SOFA scores. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality, while 30 day mortality, ventilator-free days (VFDs) at 30 days, and ICU complications were secondary endpoints.

Results

A total of 1,049 patients were eligible; 502 patients were included after propensity score matching (1:1 ratio). The in-hospital mortality [hazard ratio 0.69 (95% CI 0.54, 0.89), P = 0.004] and 30-day mortality [hazard ratio 0.75 (95% CI 0.58, 0.98), P = 0.03] were significantly lower in patients who received statin therapy on multivariable cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Moreover, patients who received statin therapy had lower odds of hospital-acquired pneumonia [OR 0.48 (95% CI 0.32, 0.69), P < 0.001], lower levels of inflammatory markers on follow-up, and no increased risk of liver injury.

Conclusion

The use of statin therapy during ICU stay in critically ill patients with COVID-19 may have a beneficial role and survival benefit with a good safety profile.

Association of Statins for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases With Hospitalization for COVID-19: A Nationwide Matched Population-Based Cohort Study

Background There is little evidence on the relationship between statin use and the risk of hospitalization attributable to COVID-19. Methods and Results The French National Healthcare Data System database was used to conduct a matched-cohort study. For each adult aged ≥40 years receiving statins for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, one nonuser was randomly selected and matched for year of birth, sex, residence area, and comorbidities. The association between statin use and hospitalization for COVID-19 was examined using conditional Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and long-term medications. Its association with in-hospital death from COVID-19 was also explored. All participants were followed up from February 15, 2020, to June 15, 2020. The matching procedure generated 2 058 249 adults in the statin group and 2 058 249 in the control group, composed of 46.6% of men with a mean age of 68.7 years. Statin users had a 16% lower risk of hospitalization for COVID-19 than nonusers (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.84; 95% CI, 0.81-0.88). All types of statins were significantly associated with a lower risk of hospitalization, with the adjusted HR ranging from 0.75 for fluvastatin to 0.89 for atorvastatin. Low- and moderate-intensity statins also showed a lower risk compared with nonusers (HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.71-0.86] and HR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.80-0.89], respectively), whereas high-intensity statins did not (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.86-1.18). We found similar results with in-hospital death from COVID-19. Conclusions Our findings support that the use of statins for primary prevention is associated with lower risks of hospitalization for COVID-19 and of in-hospital death from COVID-19.

Clinical Outcome of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients with History of Atrial Fibrillation

Background and objectives: Pre-existing atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent comorbidity in hospitalized patients with COVID-19; however, little is still known about its prognostic role in infected patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether the pre-existing AF as comorbidity would contribute to increase the risk for severe forms of COVID-19, worse prognosis, or even higher mortality. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated all consecutive COVID-19 patients admitted to the emergency department of nine Italian Hospitals from 1 March to 30 April 2020.The prevalence and the type of pre-existing AF have been collected. The correlation between the history and type of AF and the development of severe ARDS and in-hospital mortality has been evaluated. Results: In total, 467 patients (66.88 ± 14.55 years; 63% males) with COVID-19 were included in the present study. The history of AF was noticed in 122 cases (26.1%), of which 12 (2.6%) with paroxysmal, 57 (12.2%) with persistent and 53 (11.3%) with permanent AF. Among our study population, COVID-19 patients with AF history were older compared to those without AF history (71.25 ± 12.39 vs. 65.34 ± 14.95 years; p < 0.001); however, they did not show a statistically significant difference in cardiovascular comorbidities or treatments. Pre-existing AF resulted in being independently associated with an increased risk of developing severe ARDS during the hospitalization; in contrast, it did not increase the risk of in-hospital mortality. Among patients with AF history, no significant differences were detected in severe ARDS and in-hospital mortality between patients with permanent and non-permanent AF history. Conclusions: Pre-existing AF is a frequent among COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital, accounting up to 25% of cases. It is independently associated with an increased risk of severe ARDS in hospitalized COVID-19 patients; in contrast, it did not affect the risk of death. The type of pre-existing AF (permanent or non-permanent) did not impact the clinical outcome.

Prognostic Implications of Right Ventricular Function and Pulmonary Pressures Assessed by Echocardiography in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19

AIMS

Pulmonary involvement in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may affect right ventricular (RV) function and pulmonary pressures. The prognostic value of tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPS), and TAPSE/PAPS ratios have been poorly investigated in this clinical setting.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This is a multicenter Italian study, including consecutive patients hospitalized for COVID-19. In-hospital mortality and pulmonary embolism (PE) were identified as the primary and secondary outcome measures, respectively. The study included 227 (16.1%) subjects (mean age 68 ± 13 years); intensive care unit (ICU) admission was reported in 32.2%. At competing risk analysis, after stratifying the population into tertiles, according to TAPSE, PAPS, and TAPSE/PAPS ratio values, patients in the lower TAPSE and TAPSE/PAPS tertiles, as well as those in the higher PAPS tertiles, showed a significantly higher incidence of death vs. the probability to be discharged during the hospitalization. At univariable logistic regression analysis, TAPSE, PAPS, and TAPSE/PAPS were significantly associated with a higher risk of death and PE, both in patients who were and were not admitted to ICU. At adjusted multivariable regression analysis, TAPSE, PAPS, and TAPSE/PAPS resulted in independently associated risk of in-hospital death (TAPSE: OR 0.85, CI 0.74-0.97; PAPS: OR 1.08, CI 1.03-1.13; TAPSE/PAPS: OR 0.02, CI 0.02 × 10^-1-0.2) and PE (TAPSE: OR 0.7, CI 0.6-0.82; PAPS: OR 1.1, CI 1.05-1.14; TAPSE/PAPS: OR 0.02 × 10^-1, CI 0.01 × 10^-2-0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Echocardiographic evidence of RV systolic dysfunction, increased PAPS, and poor RV-arterial coupling may help to identify COVID-19 patients at higher risk of mortality and PE during hospitalization.