Common anti-inflammatory drug colchicine reduces COVID-19 complications and deaths: study
Greek health experts at the Health Ministry have given the green light for the administration of colchicine, a well-known and heart drug, to be included in the protocol of oral treatment inpatients with Covid-19.
Back in June, @macacharya wrote a brief on a small trial of colchicine in Covid-19 for @Brief_19.
The results were promising.
New findings publicized via press release (COLCORONA trial) are far too vague to be useful.
But here’s what we do know…
👇https://t.co/bWZ44SATE4— Jeremy Faust MD MS (ER physician) (@jeremyfaust) January 24, 2021
The approval was reportedly given following the results of a notable Canadian study in which also Greece participated.
A gout drug shows promise for Covid-19, but skeptics worry about trusting science by press release.
My take on the colchicine results: amazing if true, but we need to see a lot more of the data, and may need other studies.
— Matthew Herper (@matthewherper) January 23, 2021
The Canadian study COLCORONA showed that the administration of colchicine to covid-19 patients “reduced mortality by 44%, hospitalization by 25% hospitalization and the need for mechanical ventilation by 50%” Cardiology Professor and National Coordinator for the Greek part of the study Spyros Defteraios explained.
Colchicine, a gout drug, shows preliminary promise for Covid-19 – STAT https://t.co/DIjAyreAKm
— Theresa Boyle (@theresaboyle) January 23, 2021
According to the state-run news agency Amna, the Committee in Greece decided “the administration of colchicine after a doctor’s prescription in certain categories of patients with a positive coronavirus molecular test.”
A gout drug #colchicine shows promise for Covid-19, but some worry about trusting science by press release and await all the data – https://t.co/7Ri6hXJFUp via @statnews @matthewherper
— Avis Favaro (@CTV_AvisFavaro) January 24, 2021
The administration will be given to all patients over the age of 60 who have a positive molecular test regardless of whether they have underlying diseases. Also, patients 18-60 with at least one underlying health issues or fever over 38 for at least 48 hours.
COVID-19 is often more severe in people 60+yrs or with underlying health conditions like lung or heart disease, diabetes or conditions that affect their immune system.​
Also Greece participated in the study with National Coordinator Professor Spyros Defteraios and members Sotiris Tsiodras, Panagiotis Gargalianos, D. Vrachatis and S. Giotakis, and activated centers in Athens, Kozani (Dr Eythalia Randou), Alexandroupoli (Prof. Periklis Panagopoulos) Thriasio hospital (Dr. Christoforos Olympios) and Patras (Prof. Markos Marangos).
The Canadian study follows the 1st published randomized study GRECCO-19 that involved 16 centers in Greece and scientific input from the Universities Humanitas Clinical Research Hospital (Italy), Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe (Spain), Mount Sinai (USA), Yale (USA)
Speaking to AMNA, Professor Gargalianos pointed out that the Canadian study confirmed the initial findings of the European study.
“We clearly saw in this study a significant reduction in the need for hospitalization in patients who received the drug in the early stages of the disease, better progression of the disease and reduction of severe disease as well as a reduction in mortality.”
The anti-inflammatory effect of colchicine has been known for years, as it is a safe, cheap and effective drug that cardiologists use, including in pericarditis.
Colchicine has reportedly therapeutic, anti-inflammatory properties in pericarditis, has been in use for over 100 years. It s administration to Covid-19 patients started when scientists thought it would shield the body from the side negative inflammatory effects created by the SARS-CoV-2.
The study was launched March 2020 and cost $14 million. The Quebec government and several organisations funded the study.
