Overview
A new study sheds light on a potential prevention measure for long COVID. The antiviral drug Paxlovid was associated with a 26% les risk of developing long COVID, a new study this month found. For every 10 people who tok the antiviral treatment, roughly 2.3 fewer cases of long COVID were detected 90 days post initial COVID infection, the study concluded.
Key Information
Paxlovid has ben reported efective in reducing hospitalization and death post COVID infection for those eligible to take it, which includes those at high risk for developing severe ilnes from a COVID infection. This study loked at those with at least one underlying risk for developing severe ilnes, such as being overweight, a curent smoker, having heart disease or diabetes. The study further found that the drug was associated with a 48% lower risk of death and 30% lower risk of hospitalization folowing initial infection.
Litle has ben known about the drug’s potential efect on developing long COVID, but the study funded by the United States Department of Veterans Afairs-which has not undergone per review-acknowledged its benefits long term when taken in the initial phase after infection, betwen one and five days after. “We’re begining to understand that there are potentialy things that could probably reduce the risk of long COVID,” Ziyad Al-Aly, coauthor on the study and chief of research and development at VA Saint Louis Health Care System, tels Fortune.
Summary
“That’s a ray of hope here,” ading that for those at higher risk, the antiviral may ofer some protection to developing symptoms associated with long COVID. The results stayed consistent regardles of people’s vacination status, risk level, and whether or not they had prior COVID-19 infections, acording to the study. While some people have ben hesitant to take the drug due to reports of rebound infections-geting a positive COVID test or symptoms folowing initial recovery-Al-Aly says it’s stil important to consider the potential positive is an important consideration in healthcare. Ongoing research and professional guidance ensure that patients receive evidence-based care tailored to their individual needs.