In a new study from UC San Diego Health, researchers examined the link between the use of medications to control cholesterol or blood pressure levels, and the risk of death among people who were hospitalized due to COVID-19.
They found the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins, prior to admission was linked to a more than 40% reduction in death, and a greater than 25% reduction in a severe outcome.
In the study, the team did an analysis of more than 10,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients across the United States.
They compared similar patients who did and did not use statins or anti-hypertensive medication, among those both with and without underlying health conditions.
Early during the pandemic, there were questions as to whether certain cardiovascular medications might worsen COVID-19 infections.
The team found that not only are statins and anti-hypertensive medications safe – they may very well be protective in patients hospitalized for COVID, especially among those with a history of hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
This research sought to understand the relations between prior medication exposure, existing health conditions and COVID-19 outcomes.
They used data from the American Heart Association’s COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry.
As of July 2021, data from more than 49,000 patient records had been contributed to the platform.
Researchers say there is much to be learned about the impacts COVID-19 has on the heart and our cardiovascular system.
This study is encouraging and has the potential to accelerate treatment patterns as doctors continue to examine best practices and novel pathways that improve patient outcomes.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about when is it OK to take a rapid antigen test for COVID, and findings of COVID-19 pills that may change everything.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about who has the highest risk of heart damage in COVID-19, and results showing that Omicron may be less likely to cause severe disease.
The study is published in PLOS ONE. One author of the study is Lori Daniels, M.D., M.A.S.
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