Scientists name drugs that protect against COVID-19 death

Patients taking statins to lower bad cholesterol levels reduce their risk of death from COVID-19 while hospitalized by 41%, scientists from the University of California reported.

According to MedicalXpress, researchers analyzed data on more than 10,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the United States from January to September 2020. Statins have been found to be most useful in patients with a serious medical condition for taking these drugs, such as a history of cardiovascular disease or a history of high blood pressure.

The study found that the use of statins or drugs for hypertension was associated with a 32% reduction in the risk of death from COVID-19 among patients with a history of cardiovascular disease or hypertension.

For the analysis, the scientists used the method of statistical comparison of data from patients who took statins or antihypertensive drugs with similar patients who did not. Factors taken into account were the month of hospitalization, age, race, ethnicity, gender, and a list of pre-existing conditions.

According to scientists, they cannot say with certainty that the discovered link between statin use and a decrease in the severity of COVID-19 infection is due to the action of the statins themselves. However, the study results provide additional evidence that these drugs may protect against a patient's high risk of death from COVID-19.