Use of Certain Prescription Drugs Linked to COVID-19 Mortality | Health, Medicine and Fitness

MONDAY January 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) – A potential COVID-19 survival benefit is suggested in association with the initiation or continuation of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE-I) inhibitor, d ” an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), or metformin for hospital patients, according to a study published in the December issue of BMJ.

Arthur W. Wallace, MD, Ph.D., of the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and colleagues classified the patterns of use of ACE-I, ARA, beta blockers, metformin , famotidine and remdesivir and captured mortality among 9,532 hospital patients with COVID-19 infection.

Researchers found that stopping an ACE-I was associated with a high risk of death (odds ratio, 1.4), while the risk of death was reduced in association with initiation or use. continuous ACE-I (odds ratios, 0.3 and 0.6, respectively). Statistically significant associations of similar direction and magnitude were observed with the use of ARBs and metformin. Taking into account the pre-existing morbidity and the adjustment of the propensity score, the results remained unchanged.

“Our results not only support the continuation of the drugs ACE-I, ARB and metformin in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, but suggest a benefit for initiation in patients with an indication for treatment,” the authors write. “We also found consistent evidence with the benefits of the same strategy in patients with COVID-19 who are not hospitalized. “