Polish researchers publishing as we speak in Scientific Reviews counsel that sufferers receiving antiplatelet remedy earlier than contracting COVID-19 have been much less ceaselessly hospitalized within the intensive care unit (ICU), developed shock much less typically, and had decrease 3-month mortality. The examine was carried out in 2020 and 2021, earlier than the widespread use of vaccine in Poland.
The examine in contrast outcomes amongst hospitalized COVID sufferers who have been taking antiplatelet remedy previous to an infection (274 sufferers) and matched controls who had by no means acquired antiplatelet remedy.
Thrombosis, or blood clotting, has been indicated as a consider COVID-19 mortality, and the authors hypothesized that antiplatelet remedy could defend in opposition to extreme outcomes linked to thrombosis, as platelets play a significant function in hemostasis, thrombosis, and inflammatory response, they mentioned.
Within the examine, 94% of sufferers have been taking a type of acetylsalicylic acid, together with aspirin, on the time of COVID an infection.
3-month mortality higher in antiplatelet group
In-hospital mortality for each teams of sufferers was related, with deaths occurring amongst 53 (19%) and 64 (23%) of the antiplatelet remedy and no-antiplatelet teams, respectively.
Sufferers who had been on antiplatelet remedy, nonetheless, have been much less prone to go to the ICU (9% vs 15%), and develop shock (9% vs 15%). There was additionally a decrease 3-month mortality (31% vs 39%) for the antiplatelet remedy group (hazard ratio 0.69, 95% confidence interval, 0.51 to 0.93.)
Extra cardiovascular occasions have been reported within the short- and long-term within the antiplatelet remedy group, however the authors counsel that is doubtless resulting from preexisting comorbidities.
The general prognosis was higher within the AP [antiplatelet] group.
“Regardless of the higher variety of comorbidities and vascular occasions throughout hospitalization, the general prognosis was higher within the AP [antiplatelet] group,” the authors wrote.
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