George Washington University researchers found that low-dose aspirin may reduce the need for mechanical ventilation, ICU admission and hospital-based mortality in hospital-acquired COVID-19 patients. Final results showing the protective effects of aspirin lung were published today in Anesthesia & Analgesia.
As we learned about the link between blood clots and COVID-19, we knew that aspirin – used to prevent stroke and heart attack – may be important for COVID-19 patients. Our research found an association between low-dose aspirin and reduced COVID-19 severity and mortality. “
Jonathan Chow, MD, Associate Professor, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine and Director, Critical Care Anesthesiology Fellowship, GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences
More than 400 patients were admitted from March to July 2020 to hospitals across the United States, including those at GW Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Health System Northeast Georgia, included in the study. After adjustment for demographics and comorbidities, aspirin use was associated with a reduced risk of mechanical ventilation (44% reduction), ICU admission (43% reduction), and intra-hospital mortality (47% reduction). There were no differences in major bleeding or open thrombosis between aspirin users and non-aspirin users.
Preliminary findings were first published as a prelude to the fall of 2020. Since then, other studies have demonstrated the potential impact of aspirin on both disease prevention and reduced risk for COVID infection. -19 and death. Chow hopes this study will lead to more research into whether there is a causal relationship between aspirin use and reduced lung injury in COVID-19 patients.
“Aspirin is low-cost, easily affordable and millions are already using it to treat their health conditions,” Chow said. “Finding this association is a huge benefit for those who want to reduce risk from some of the most devastating effects of COVID-19.”
Source:
George Washington University
Magazine Reference:
Chow, JH, et al. (2021) Aspirin use is associated with lower mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admission, and intra-hospital mortality in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019. Anesthesia & Analgesia. doi.org/10.1213/ANE.0000000000005292.