Did You Know? Metformin Is Associated with a 70% Reduced Mortality in Those with Diabetes and Covid-19
Accumulating observational data suggest that metformin use in patients with type 2 diabetes might reduce the risk of death from COVID-19. The latest results were published online on July 31. The researchers found that among more than 600 patients with diabetes and COVID-19, the use of metformin was associated with a nearly 70% reduction in mortality after adjustment for multiple confounders—data from four previous studies that also show a decrease in mortality among metformin users compared to nonusers. Taken together, the four observational studies showed that metformin had a positive effect, with an overall 25% reduction in death (P < .00001), albeit with relatively high heterogeneity. The largest of these, from the United States, included 6,256 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and involved propensity matching. A significant reduction in mortality with metformin use was seen in women but not men (odds ratio, 0.759). Because metformin exerts various effects beyond its glucose-lowering action, among which are anti-inflammatory effects, it may be speculated that this biguanide might positively influence the prognosis of patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19. Given the potential confounders inherently found in observational studies, caution is required before drawing any firm conclusions in the absence of randomized controlled trials. The increasing observational data suggest that metformin use in patients with type 2 diabetes might reduce the risk of death from COVID-19. Still, the randomized trials needed to prove this are unlikely to be carried out, according to experts. medRxiv. Published online July 31, 2020. Full text; Diabetes Metab. Published online, August 1, 2020. Full text
“Does Metformin Reduce Risk for Death in COVID-19?” Medscape-Aug. 14, 2020 | 