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 those prescribed metformin.
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 team says this study continues to provide justification for further research on metformin for COVID-19.
These findings add to the growing body of data that suggests metformin reduces the severity of COVID-19.
Previous research had found 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 studies are warranted.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies that not all whole grain foods could benefit people with diabetes, and green tea and coffee could help reduce the death risk of diabetes.
For more information about COVID, please see recent studies about new evidence on rare blood clots after COVID-19 vaccination, and results showing zinc could help reduce COVID-19 infection risk.
The study was conducted by Carolyn Bramante et al and published in PLOS ONE.
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