WE HAVE GOOD NEWS: THE ANTIVIRAL DRUG PAXLOVID reduces the risk of dying from COVID-19 by 79 percent and hospitalizations by 73 percent in at-risk patients 65 or older. There are the findings from a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
First, some background: Paxlovid is a combination of two drugs, nirmatrelvir, and ritonavir.
The US Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of the drug in December 2021 to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 infections. The drug is for those (at least age 12) who are at high risk for suffering from severe infection, hospitalization, and death.
Today we look at one of the most thorough studies. The new research demonstrates that Paxlovid reduces the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization and death.
Paxlovid reduces COVID-19 death risk
The researchers analyzed information from electronic medical records, using data from a health care organization covering just over half of the Israeli population and almost two-thirds of older adults. Over 30,000 patients with COVID-19 in Israel have received Paxlovid.
The researchers examined hospitalization and death date for at-risk patients at least age 40. The examined period is one in which the original Omicron variant dominated in Israel.
The patients had an average age of 60, and nearly 40 percent were 65 or older. Nearly four in five (78 percent) had previous vaccination, COVID-19 infection, or both. Here are the impressive results:
The rate of COVID-19 hospitalization was about 15 cases per 100,000 person-days among patients treated with Paxlovid, compared with 59 per 100,000 person-days among untreated patients. The hospitalization rate was 73 percent lower among those taking Paxlovid.
Moreover, the patients taking Paxlovid had a 79 percent lower chance of dying from COVID-19 infection. However, the risk of death did not appear to be lower for the younger patients, ages 40 to 64.
Not surprisingly, a lack of previous vaccination or infection appeared strongly linked to high hospitalization rates during the Omicron wave.
The study authors reported no financial or in-kind support. Thank you for joining me in this look at the effectiveness of Paxlovid for those at risk of severe complications from COVID-19 infection.
