Effects of the combined use of atorvastatin and curcetin on inflammatory biomarkers in patients with unstable angina after COVID-19 (“Long COVID”)

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effects of atorvastatin monotherapy and the combination of atorvastatin with curcetin (a mixture of the bioflavonoids curcumin and quercetin) on lipid profile and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with unstable angina after COVID-19 (“Long COVID”).Material. An open simple comparative randomized study was conducted in 186 patients with unstable angina, including 77 (Group I) in whom angina destabilization occurred as a result of COVID-19 during 4-8 weeks prior to inclusion in the study, and 109 patients (Group II) in whom destabilization was not associated with infection.Results: In group I, the level of hsC-reactive protein [5,4 (2,06-7,4) g/l and IL-6 8,6 (5,4-10,3) pg/ml] was higher (P < 0,05) than in group II patients [3,8 (1,2-4,0) g/l and 6,9 (2,2-10,2) pg/ml], respectively. In subgroup I of patients after COVID-19, atorvastatin monotherapy (n = 43) did not have a significant effect after two months of treatment, while in subgroup II the combined use of atorvastatin with curcetin (n = 34) for 2 months reduced the level of hsCRP by 49,0% (P < 0,05) and Il-6 by 40,0% (P < 0,05).Conclusion. In patients with unstable angina after COVID-19, combination treatment with atorvastatin and curcetin reduced concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers compared with atorvastatin monotherapy.