
Using the oral antiviral nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) was linked to a considerably decrease threat of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and all-cause dying for at the least 3 months after gentle to average COVID-19, in accordance with a research printed within the Journal of Medical Virology.
Researchers at Chung Shan Medical College in Taiwan used the digital well being information of 181,992 matched pairs of US grownup long-COVID survivors contaminated in 2022 or 2023 and both handled with Paxlovid inside 5 days of prognosis or given common care.
The common affected person age was 57.3 years amongst Paxlovid recipients and 47.8 years within the non-Paxlovid group.
Older, overweight adults additionally benefitted
Paxlovid use was tied to a considerably diminished threat of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke (hazard ratio [HR]0.85) and all-cause dying (HR, 0.68) for at the least 90 days after COVID-19 an infection. The findings held throughout age, intercourse, physique mass index (BMI), vaccination standing, and underlying illnesses reminiscent of hypertension, diabetes, and excessive levels of cholesterol.
Shared decision-making ought to be included into medical observe to stability the dangers and advantages of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir.
Older adults and people with metabolic situations reminiscent of weight problems additionally obtained important advantages in opposition to stroke and dying (HR, 0.81 and 0.86, respectively), no matter vaccination standing.
“SARS-CoV-2 disrupts glucose metabolism, impairs β-cell perform, and triggers irritation, resulting in long-term metabolic disturbances and endothelial dysfunction,” the research authors wrote. “By limiting viral replication and irritation, Paxlovid could assist mitigate metabolic disruptions and protect vascular integrity, decreasing stroke threat in high-risk populations.”
The HR for stroke at 6-month follow-up was 0.67 and 0.51 for dying. At 1-year follow-up, the HR was 0.75 for stroke and 0.58 for dying. At 2 years, the HR was 0.83 for stroke and 0.67 for dying.
“Shared decision-making ought to be included into medical observe to stability the dangers and advantages of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, bearing in mind the chance of extreme COVID-19, age, comorbidities, prior an infection, and potential disruptions to cardiovascular remedy, with different therapies thought of if obligatory,” the researchers concluded.