Can aspirin reduce the risk of death from Covid-19?

One aspirin a day: Some heart patients take the pain reliever as a precaution. Researchers have now found that long-term use can also affect Covid-19.

Aspirin is one of the most famous drugs in the world. The active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid (abbreviated ASA) has an analgesic, anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory effect, for example against headaches.

Taken daily in low doses, it should also protect against cardiovascular diseases such as Heart attack, Career, Protecting thrombosis and diabetes. Aspirin is given to patients with pre-existing conditions to prevent further events.

Now a study by American researchers has examined whether chronic aspirin intake also affects Covid-19, with surprising results.

Study: Effects of Aspirin on Covid-19

A team led by Dr. Jonathan Chow of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore examined the medical records of more than 400 Covid-19 patients, averaging 55 years of age, who had been hospitalized. in recent months with complications from your infection.

About a quarter of the patients took low-dose aspirin, usually 81 milligrams, a day before admission or immediately after admission to control their cardiovascular disease.

The researchers found in their observational study that taking aspirin with

• a 44 percent reduction in the risk of being hooked up to a ventilator
• a 43 percent reduction in the risk of being admitted to the ICU and
• was associated with a 47 percent reduction in the risk of dying in hospital compared to those who did not take aspirin.

Low risk of complications and death with ASA

In summary: patients who were treated with a low dose of acetylsalicylic acid before corona infection had a significantly lower risk of complications and death.

His starting position was less favorable. They had high blood pressure and suffered more often Diabetes or heart or kidney disease, so it was often treated with aspirin. The results of the investigation were published in the journal “Anesthesia & Analgesia”.

Also SPD health expert Karl Lauterbach shared the results of the study on Twitter. He speaks of a “very interesting study” and notes that “a randomized study for confirmation would be useful.”

The study authors also address this point. “This is a critical finding that needs to be confirmed by a randomized clinical trial,” study leader Jonathan Chow said in a statement. “If our findings are confirmed, aspirin would be the first widely available over-the-counter drug that reduces mortality in Covid-19 patients.”

Should I take aspirin as a precaution?

For a preventive intake of aspirin, in the case of COVID-19 have a more favorable starting position – there is currently insufficient evidence. Medical professionals generally disagree on how great protection is from aspirin and which people benefit from it. Patients who have had a heart attack or stroke caused by a blood clot are advised to take low-dose aspirin every day to prevent future blood clots.

However, taking even low amounts of ASA per day can increase the risk of severe bleeding or stomach ulcers. For people who have not had a heart attack or stroke, taking aspirin preventively is not recommended because of the risks.