Long COVID – or the onset of new symptoms or worsening health conditions after SARS-CoV-2 infection – can reduce quality of life. Finding a way to prevent it would be a welcome relief for those worried about the long-term effects of the viral infection.
A study published last week in the Journal of Medical Virology reveals that U.S. COVID-19 patients who were prescribed metformin, a drug that treats prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, within six days of COVID-19 infection were less likely to develop long COVID or die.
“Prescribing metformin within 1 week of documented SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a 53% reduction in LC/D (long COVID or death) over 6 months in this predominantly Omicron-infected sample,” wrote the authors, led by researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Findings could help guide treatment recommendations
Using electronic health records, scientists conducted a target trial emulation in COVID-infected participants. They compared 248 people who received a new prescription for metformin within six days of diagnosis with the same number of controls who were prescribed the experimental treatments fluvoxamine, fluticasone, ivermectin or montelukast during the same period.
Half of the metformin cohort and more than half (52%) of the control group were infected with the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant.
Prescribing metformin within 1 week of documented SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a 53% reduction in LC/D (long COVID or death) over 6 months.
Overall, the weighted incidence of long COVID or death in patients receiving metformin or control treatment within six days of diagnosis was 6.3%: 4.0% in the metformin cohort and 8.5% in controls (absolute risk reduction, 4.5% for metformin).
“These results are also consistent with a recent focused sequential trial analysis in the United Kingdom that evaluated metformin started within 90 days of infection, HR (hazard ratio) 0.36,” the authors wrote. “Replication of results in clinical trials is important to inform treatment guidelines. »
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