The Association of Atorvastatin Therapy With COVID-۱۹ Outcomes and Mortality

Background: The world is still witnessing a largely ongoing spread of coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹); therefore, the scientific findings in this area need to be shared promptly.Objectives: This study aimed to assess the usefulness of Atorvastatin treatment in reducing COVID-۱۹ mortality in patients with or without diabetes mellitus (DM) and to correlate them with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.Methods: This study consecutively enrolled patients with pneumonia symptoms, positive lung CT scan, and confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus ۲ (SARS-CoV-۲) on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The outcome was defined as intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death. Clinical data and history of atorvastatin administration were evaluated. CRP levels were measured at baseline and repeated after one week in all patients.Results: A total of ۲۰۰ patients were included. Their mean age was ۶۰.۵ (SD = ۱۶.۵) years, ۱۱۳ (۵۶.۵%) patients were male, ۴۷ (۲۳.۵%) with pre-existing diabetes, and ۶۴ (۳۲%) patients were taking atorvastatin routinely. ۶۸ (۳۴%) required ICU admission of all the studied patients. No gender differences were found in ICU admission and death. The baseline CRP was not significantly different, but the secondary CRP was significantly different between DM and non-DM groups. Secondary CRP also showed a significant reduction in patients receiving atorvastatin (P = ۰.۰۱۷). The mortality was the same in atorvastatin or non-atorvastatin groups (P = ۰.۷۱۵).Conclusion: It seems that taking statin has only some beneficial effects on improving CRP levels in patients with COVID-۱۹. To achieve a reliable result, clinical trials are recommended.