COVID-19 Mortality Risk Linked to Statin Treatment and Antibody Levels

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in the Atherosclerosis journal has found that the combination of statin treatment and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels has a stronger association with mortality risk than either factor individually in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The research, conducted by Central Medical Laboratories, involved a prospective, propensity-score-matched, multicenter-cohort study of 1144 COVID-19 patients hospitalized between August 2021 and April 2022. The study measured anti-SARS-CoV-2-spike antibodies, interleukin-6, and CRP on hospital admission and found that mortality risk increased incrementally from the lowest risk group of patients on statin treatment exhibiting high antibody levels to the highest risk group of patients without statin treatment and low antibody levels.

Key Takeaways:

  • The combination of statin treatment and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels showed a stronger association with mortality risk than either factor individually in COVID-19 patients.
  • Patients not receiving statins with low antibody levels were approximately 7.9 times more likely to die than patients on statins with high antibody levels (aHR 7.922, 95% CI 2.777-22.605, p < 0.001).
  • The study found that the highest risk group of patients without statin treatment and low antibody levels presented with the highest inflammation levels.
  • The pre-specified primary endpoint was all-cause in-hospital mortality, and the median follow-up was 90 days (IQR 48-90).
  • The study was conducted in a multicenter-cohort setting and involved 1144 COVID-19 patients hospitalized between August 2021 and April 2022.
  • The research was peer-reviewed and published in the Atherosclerosis journal in 2025.

Statistics:

  • 1144 (number of COVID-19 patients studied)
  • August 2021 – April 2022 (time period of hospitalization)
  • 90 (median follow-up days)
  • 7.9 (approximate fold increase in mortality risk for patients not receiving statins with low antibody levels)
  • 95% CI (2.777-22.605, p < 0.001) (confidence interval for the association between statin treatment and antibody levels with mortality risk)

Sources:

  • Interplay of statin treatment and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in the outcome of COVID-19: a prospective, propensity score matched cohort study. Atherosclerosis, 2025;408:120449.
  • Researchers from Central Medical Laboratories Report Details of New Studies and Findings in the Area of COVID-19 (Interplay of statin treatment and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in the outcome of COVID-19: a prospective, propensity score ...). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. August 17, 2025; p 131.