In a study from the University of Minnesota, scientists examined adults with type 2 diabetes who were taking metformin, a commonly prescribed diabetes medication.
They found an association with less severe cases of COVID-19 for that prescribed metformin.
These findings were part of a study that analyzed electronic medical charts and compared adults who were taking either metformin, a sulfonylurea, or a DPP-4 inhibitor.
This study continues to provide justification for further research on metformin for COVID-19.
In the study, the team showed that among adults with type 2 diabetes who were taking one oral medication for their condition, those taking metformin had a 45% lower risk of needing a breathing machine or dying from COVID-19 than similar individuals who were not taking metformin.
Of the similar analyses that have been done, this study used a database large enough to allow a rigorous study of the utilization and effect of these drugs in a larger, well-defined population. The research team collaborated with national experts in pharmaco-epidemiology.
These findings add to the growing body of data that suggests metformin reduces the severity of COVID-19.
A previous study showed that metformin lowers the odds of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, or death due to COVID-19.
Some of this most recent data include test-tube experiments in which metformin stopped the virus from multiplying.
Researchers say metformin is safe, inexpensive and widely available, thus more clinical trials are warranted.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about why smokers have a lower risk of COVID-19, and this drug can block multiple COVID-19 variants.
For more information about COVID, please see recent studies about the cause of deadly organ damage in COVID-19, and results showing these common anti-inflammatory drugs could help cut COVID-19 deaths.
The study was conducted by Carolyn Bramante et al and published in PLOS ONE.
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