Greek health experts from the Ministry of Health have given the go-ahead for the administration of colchicine, a well-known and heart drug, to be included in the oral treatment protocol for patients admitted to Covid-19.
The approval was given according to the results of a remarkable Canadian study in which Greece also participated.
The Canadian COLCORONA study showed that administration of colchicine to covid-19 patients “reduced mortality by 44%, hospitalization by 25% and the need for mechanical ventilation by 50%” Professor of Cardiology and National Coordinator for the Greek part of the study Spyros Defteraios explained.
According to the state news agency Amna, the Committee in Greece decided “the administration of colchicine after medical prescription in certain categories of patients with a positive coronavirus molecular test”.
The administration will be administered to all patients over 60 with a positive molecular test, regardless of whether they have underlying diseases. In addition, patients 18 to 60 years old with at least one underlying health problem or fever over 38 years old for at least 48 hours.
COVID-19 tends to be more severe in people over 60 or with underlying health conditions, such as lung or heart disease, diabetes or conditions that affect the immune system.
The decision was made on Saturday and will be officially announced by the National Health Organization EODY.
The Canadian COLCORONA study was conducted among 4,500 patients with Covid-19.
Greece also participated in the study with the 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) Hospital Thriasio (Dr. Christoforos Olympios) and Patras (Prof. Markos Marangos).
The Canadian study follows the first published randomized study GRECCO-19 involving 16 centers in Greece and scientific contributions from the University Hospital for Clinical Research Humanitas (Italy), Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe (Spain), Monte Sinai (USA), Yale ( USA)
Speaking to AMNA, Professor Gargalianos stressed that the Canadian study confirmed the initial conclusions 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 serious illness, as well as reduced mortality.”
The anti-inflammatory effect of colchicine has been known for years, as it is a safe, cheap and effective medicine used by cardiologists, including pericarditis.
Colchicine has therapeutic and anti-inflammatory properties in pericarditis and has been in use for over 100 years. Its administration to patients with Covid-19 began when scientists thought it would protect the body from the negative side inflammatory effects created by SARS-CoV-2.
The study was launched in March 2020 and cost $ 14 million. The Quebec government and several organizations funded the study.