A new study suggests that low-dose aspirin may help people avoid the worst symptoms and side effects of COVID-19, reports USA Today.
- The study – which comes from researchers at George Washington University – reviewed data from 412 patients who went to the hospital because of COVID-19 from March to July 2020.
- About 24% of patients took aspirin seven days or less before being admitted to the hospital, or within 24 hours after admission, according to the study published in the journal Anesthesia and Analgesia.
- More than 40% of patients saw their symptoms improve compared to those who did not take any version of the drug, according to the study.
- “Aspirin can have pulmonary protection effects and reduce the need for mechanical ventilation, admission to the ICU and hospital mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19,” said the report.
But remember – the researchers said that “a randomized clinical trial would be needed to establish a causal relationship,” according to USA Today.
What about aspirin for the COVID-19 vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said people should talk to their doctors about how to take “ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin or antihistamine” if they experience constant pain or discomfort with the vaccine.