PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Could the use of statins, prescription medicines that people take to bring their cholesterol down to normal levels, help in the battle against COVID-19?
COVID has been extensively studied by scientists throughout the world and, although there are still many mysteries, there is consensus among experts that much of the damage it does comes from inflammation of blood vessels and vital organs that can be extremely harmful.
Now there is news that people who take statin drugs to fight heart disease have better outcomes from COVID. Even before the development of vaccines, people on statins had a 31% lower mortality rate.
Statins reduce inflammation and have also been shown to help fight cancer and autoimmune diseases and can be beneficial in the preoperative setting.
KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.