In a new study, researchers found low-dose aspirin may reduce the need for mechanical ventilation, ICU admission, and in-hospital mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
The research was conducted by a team at George Washington University.
As scientists learned about the connection between blood clots and COVID-19, they knew that aspirin—used to prevent stroke and heart attack—could be important for COVID-19 patients.
In the study, the team tested over 400 patients admitted from March to July 2020 to hospitals around the United States.
They found that aspirin use was linked to a decreased risk of mechanical ventilation (44% reduction), ICU admission (43% reduction), and in-hospital mortality (47% reduction).
Preliminary findings were first published as a preprint in fall 2020.
Since then, other studies have confirmed the impact aspirin can have on both preventing infection and reducing the risk for severe COVID-19 and death.
The team hopes that this study leads to more research on whether a causal relationship exists between aspirin use and reduced lung injury in COVID-19 patients.
They say aspirin is low-cost, easily accessible and millions are already using it to treat their health conditions.
Finding this association is a huge win for those looking to reduce risk from some of the most devastating effects of COVID-19.
The study is published in Anesthesia & Analgesia. One author of the study is Jonathan Chow, M.D.
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