Unhappy Thread

[Bob G]

EDIT - I read recently that statins (which I take to keep cholesterol low) improves outcomes with Covid.

That's good. I've been on statins since 1995

Last year the BHF wrote this: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/behind-the-headlines/covid-and-statins

Statins are prescribed to millions in the UK to help lower levels of bad cholesterol in the blood. These drugs have also been associated with reducing inflammation and blood clotting, both of which can be features of severe cases of Covid. So there was already interest from scientists in whether statins may be helpful in treating severe Covid.
In this latest study, scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden followed nearly a million people aged 45 or over between March and November 2020, looking at data from death registers and prescription records.
When they adjusted for other factors, such as existing health conditions, they found that taking statins was associated with a "moderately lower risk" of dying from Covid-19 – about a 12 per cent reduction in risk. This was true across different age groups and sexes.
The researchers stressed that this does not prove cause and effect and that randomised trials would be needed to prove that Covid deaths could be reduced by taking statins.
But this is useful reassurance that if you're taking a statin, it won't make things any worse if you get Covid and might even help.

I like the bit at the end of the BHF article where they have a dig at the Daily Excess

The Daily Express also ran sensational headlines, saying "Covid breakthrough as 'wonder' statins cut risk of death – millions of Brits may get them" and "MIRACLE drugs statins have emerged as the surprise weapon in the fight against COVID-19". These might wrongly give the impression that doctors will soon start prescribing statins as a treatment for Covid, which is unlikely, especially as much more research is needed in this area. A 12 per cent reduction in risk is certainly important, but not necessarily the "miracle" these headlines suggest.

Go forward a year, and this is the findings of a US study.

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221024/Regular-statin-use-may-reduce-the-risk-of-death-and-severity-of-COVID-19.aspx

The retrospective study is one of the most extensive of regular statin use in patients with COVID-19. Researchers analyzed the electronic medical records of 38,875 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at 185 hospitals in the United States between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2020. Of those patients, 30% regularly used statins to treat high cholesterol. Statin users had a 37% lower risk of dying from COVID-19 than those who didn't use statins. In addition, regular statin users were significantly less likely to be discharged to hospice, be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) or develop blood clots. They also had shorter hospital stays and spent less time on a ventilator.

That's good news for me! No unhappy thread here!

Bob

[Yet_Another]

What a miserable set of analyses. Risk of death isn't exactly the most upbeat way of looking at covid statistics. It doesn't address duration or severity of infection for anyone at all.

And 30% of people admitted were taking statins? That's a huge percentage. Sounds like if you're taking statins, you're more likely to be admitted.

Gotta love statistics 

[Trainfish]

I've added statins to the wife's shopping list for when I send her out to Morrisons next 

After reading the post from @Yet_Another I'll ask her to get the 30% off version to be on the safe side. I just hope it's the right 30% which has been removed.

Time to buy some more Yeoman hoppers, perhaps?

Get well soon
Bob

Thanks Bob. I have a funny feeling that when my 10 hoppers are delivered tomorrow (if the postmen/women aren't on strike) I will decide almost immediately that I need some more and you know what that means as I do have a bit of a 'thing' for Yeoman hoppers.......................

[Newportnobby]

 

[Trainfish]

You are as always absolutely correct. There are only 77 Yeoman hoppers in that picture but my spreadsheet says I have 94. I need help in finding the missing 17 hoppers 

[Bob G]

What a miserable set of analyses. Risk of death isn't exactly the most upbeat way of looking at covid statistics. It doesn't address duration or severity of infection for anyone at all.

And 30% of people admitted were taking statins? That's a huge percentage. Sounds like if you're taking statins, you're more likely to be admitted.

Gotta love statistics 

if you are taking statins, then you need them, Covid or not, so we are really in the statin club whether we like it or not.

[Dorsetmike]

so we are really in the statin club whether we like it or not.

That's statin(g) the obvious

[Trainfish]

If I didn't have a station then my trains wouldn't have anywhere to stop

I would get my coat but I'm far too hot to wear it right now 

[Graham]

just come back from holiday to find a leaking pipe in the garden, and a $4000 bill to get the whole pipe renewed from the water meter to the house, and a wrecked front lawn to boot as part of the repair. not happy.

[stevewalker]

How much?! How about hiring a labourer to dig a trench and then put in a new pipe yourself?

[Graham]

If I was capable, or if my father was still alive (he was a plumber) and I was 20yrs younger not a problem. Beyond me now I am afraid, and when you have water pouring out like a full tap turned, you just need it fixing asap. the trench was close to 25mtrs.

[Trainfish]

It's a good job I built up a good stock of these....................

[emjaybee]

It looks like you had a massive exposure to the viral load. From what I understand, the higher the viral load you're exposed to, the 'worse' your case of the infection. All hail the vaccines, heaven knows what you'd have been like without it.

[Trainfish]

Having lost a very good friend and a couple of acquaintances to Covid before the vaccines came out I agree, I probably/possibly wouldn't be here to type this if we rolled back 2 or 3 years. I have had 3 doses of the vaccine and had an appointment for the 4th on the 1st day I tested positive, this was cancelled of course. My wife had her 4th last month and although she felt a bit rough for a couple of days last week she never tested positive which is lucky as she is actually administering the vaccines and has been for a couple of months. I think her 4th dose kept this one at bay.
This is more frustrating than anything and I'm now used to not feeling great and not sleeping when I should etc but at least I'm still here and still have my warped sense of humour. If I ever lose that then it's time to worry 

[Bealman]

Keep on batting. I'm sure you'll shake it.