Use of metformin in adults with diabetes linked to lower risk of long COVID: An EHR-Based Cohort Study From the RECOVER Program

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -

What

Adults who use the prescription drug metformin to treat their type 2 diabetes have a lower risk of developing long COVID or dying after a COVID-19 infection than people with diabetes who take other anti-diabetes medications, according to a large study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The findings, published in the journal Diabetes Care, were based on health data from millions of U.S. patients and could have broader implications for use of metformin in long COVID prevention generally. The study is part of the NIH-funded Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (NIH RECOVER) Initiative(link is external).

An earlier NIH-supported clinical trial in 2023 showed that treatment with metformin, commonly used to help control blood sugar, reduced the risk of long COVID by as much as 40% in nearly 1,300 U.S. adults with overweight or obesity, most of whom did not have diabetes. To see if the drug had a similar effect in people with diabetes, researchers examined electronic health record data for nearly 38 million Americans from two large U.S. databases.

The researchers compared health records from 75,996 adults taking metformin for their type 2 diabetes to 13,336 records from patients who were not taking metformin but were using other types of diabetes medicines. Researchers were specifically looking at how many patients either died or were diagnosed with long COVID within six months after infection. They found that patients taking metformin had a 13% to 21% lower incidence of long COVID or death than those in the non-metformin group.

Scientists are not clear how metformin may prevent long COVID, but they speculate the possibility of several mechanisms that reduce inflammation, decrease viral levels, and suppress the formation of disease-related proteins.

Metformin can have side effects and should be used with caution in some conditions. For these and other reasons, people should not take the drug unless prescribed by a doctor.

Long COVID is marked by a wide range of symptoms – including chronic fatigue, brain fog, and chest pain – that vary from person to person and can last for weeks, months, or years after infection from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. While rates of new cases have decreased since early in the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people are still living with it.

This study was supported by NIH under agreement number OT2HL161847 as part of the RECOVER research program. Additional support came from grant K23 DK124654; UM1TR004406; OT2HL16184701; R01 AG056479; UM1TR004406; P30DK124723; and UM1TR004528. For more information on RECOVER, visit https://recovercovid.org(link is external).

Who

David C. Goff, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the NIH’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and lead epidemiologist for RECOVER, is available for interviews on this paper.

Study

Johnson SG, Abedian S, Stürmer T, et al. Prevalent Metformin Use in Adults with Diabetes and the Incidence of Long Covid: An EHR-based Cohort Study from the RECOVER Program(link is external) [2024] Diabetes Care. DOI: 10.2337/dca24-0032(link is external)

About RECOVER: The National Institutes of Health Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (NIH RECOVER) Initiative brings together clinicians, scientists, caregivers, patients, and community members to understand, diagnose, and treat long COVID. RECOVER has created one of the largest and most diverse groups of Long COVID study participants in the world. In addition, RECOVER clinical trials are testing potential interventions across five symptom focus areas. For more information, please visit recoverCOVID.org(link is external).

HHS Long COVID Coordination: This work is a part of the National Research Action Plan(link is external) (PDF, 1.3 MB), a broader government-wide effort in response to the Presidential Memorandum(link is external) directing the Secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services to mount a full and effective response to Long COVID. Led by Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Rachel Levine, the Plan and its companion Services and Supports for Longer-term Impacts of COVID-19 report(link is external) (PDF, 1.6 MB) lay the groundwork to advance progress in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and provision of services for individuals experiencing Long COVID. 

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dr Peter McCullough: How to Detox Spike Protein from Body

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Base Spike Detox According to Dr Peter McCullough (in a Twitter post): Base Spike Detox is what I am currently using in my practice for those who have had COVID-19 multiple times, one or more of the COVID-19 vaccines, or both and believe persistent SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein could be causing problems in their body.  I have arrived, based on the emerging scientific literature (1) and my clinical observation, that three OTC products are essential as a triple base combination: Nattokinase 2000 FU (100 mg) twice a day Bromelain 500 mg once a day Nano/Liposomal Curcumin 500 mg twice a day Related: Nattokinase, Bromelain and Curcumin from The Wellness Company Additional products can be added, including NAC, IVM (Ivermectin), HCQ (Hydroxychloroquine), fluvoxamine, low-dose naltrexone, and blood thinners, depending on the clinical evaluation and the syndrome. The therapeutic objectiv
Read more

Dr Peter McCullough: Povidone Iodine, Oral and Nasal Hygiene (2024)

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Dr. Peter McCullough is an internist, cardiologist, epidemiologist, a full professor of medicine at Texas A&M College of Medicine in Dallas, USA. He also has a master's degree in public health and is known for being one of the top five most-published medical researchers in the United States and is the editor of two medical journals. McCullough Protocol 2022 Updates:  Double blind randomized controlled trial of saline solution gargling and nasal rinsing in COVID infection (Nov 2023) What really killed COVID-19 patients: It wasn't a cytokine storm, suggests study  (2023) Everyone is familiar with nasal and oral swab testing for COVID-19. It should be obvious the virus is replicating in the nose, and with Omicron, the speed of replication has become much greater than the pri
Read more

Dr Peter McCullough Early Treatment Protocol

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Well-respected North Texas cardiologist, Dr. Peter McCullough has impeccable academic credentials. He's an internist, cardiologist, epidemiologist, a full professor of medicine at Texas A&M College of Medicine in Dallas. He also has a master's degree in public health and is known for being one of the top five most-published medical researchers in the United States and is the editor of two medical journals. McCullough et al. Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2020 McCullough Protocol 2022 Updates:  How to Detox Spike Protein from Body  (November 2023) Use of hydroxychloroquine in multidrug protocols for SARS-CoV-2 (October 2024) Paxlovid for Vaccinated or Unvaccinated Adult Outpatients with C
Read more

Find a Doctor to prescribe Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin and Early Outpatient Treatments (2024)

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Treatment should start based on clinical suspicion as soon as possible, preferably within the first 3 days of symptoms. Perform PCR testing, but do not withhold treatment pending results. 'Early' treatment will make significant difference in outcome as opposed to late treatment.  Related: How can I get Ivermectin? See the directory of professionals in US below. Directory of Doctors (by State) Prescribing Effective Outpatient COVID-19 Therapy USA ​ MULTIPLE STATES (Telemedicine or online consultation) The Wellness Company ( twc.health ) Medical Specialty: Family Medicine, Functional Medicine Supported Protocols: I-PREVENT (COVID Protection), I-CARE (Early at-home treatment), I-RECOVER (Long COVID and Post-Vaccine treatment) Dr. Miguel Antonatos (IVM) (855) 767-8559  https://text2md.com (States: AL, AZ, CO, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, ND, NE, NJ, NV, OK, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, WA, WI, WV)
Read more

How to Make Povidone Iodine 1% Nasal Spray (2024)

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Is povidone iodine the next ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine? Is there any evidence that povidone iodine can treat COVID-19? Iodine 1% Nasal Spray is part of the FLCCC I-CARE early treatment protocol :  Nasal spray with 1% povidone-iodine: 2-3 times a day. Do not use for more than 5 days in pregnancy. If 1% product is not available, dilute the more widely available 10% solution and apply 4-5 drops to each nostril every 4 hours. Use 1 % povidone iodine commercial product as per instructions 2–3 x daily. If 1 %-product not available, must first dilute the more widely available 10 %-solution. To make 1% povidone iodine concentrated solution from 10% povidone iodine solution, one dilution method is as follows: – First pour 1½ tablespoons (25ml) of 10% povidone/ iodine solution into a nasal irrigation bottle of
Read more

FLCCC I-Recover Protocol: Post Vaccine Treatment Protocol (2024)

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Over the last three years, the COVID-19 pandemic has transformed almost every aspect of our lives before we've had time to stop and question it. Although no official definition exists for post-COVID-vaccine syndrome, a temporal correlation between a patient receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and beginning or worsening of clinical manifestations is sufficient to diagnose as a COVID-19 vaccine-induced injury, when the symptoms are unexplained by other concurrent causes. Dr. Paul Marik and Dr. Pierre Kory are pleased to introduce the I-RECOVER: Post-Vaccine Treatment protocol, designed to help people who have experienced adverse symptoms after a COVID vaccine. Kory and Marik are both part of the FLCCC, which was founded in 2020 to share early treatment protocols for COVID-19. Kory is an ICU specialist, triple board certified in internal medicine, critical care and pulmonary medicine. He now runs a private tele-health practice specializing in the treatment
Read more

Front Line Doctors Ivermectin Protocol for Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 (2024)

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care (FLCCC) Alliance was initially formed as a working group during the early COVID-19 pandemic days in response to multiple early reports of COVID patients with an inexplicably high need for prolonged mechanical ventilation and an excessive death rate.  Based on rapidly emerging clinical trials evidence, the FLCCC team has developed the   I-MASK+ protocol   ( is now divided into I-Prevent and I-Care protocols ) for prophylaxis and at home treatment of early stage COVID-19. Quercetin, zinc and a number of nutrients and drugs are part of this protocol, not only for critical care but also for prophylaxis and mild disease being treated at home. This article, we will dive deeper to provide the scientific background, related references and rationale of the FLCCC protocols. FLCCC ( Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care)  Protocols I-MASK+ Prevention & Early Outpatient Treatment Protocol for COVID-19 was designed for use as a prevention and in early outpatien
Read more

Quercetin and Zinc: Zelenko Treatment Protocol

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
As of July 2024, more than 35 studies on the topic of zinc and COVID-19  ( c19zinc.com )  (constantly updated) and more than 10 studies on quercetin and COVID-19 have been published  ( c19quercetin.com ).  Dr. Zelenko’s main hypothesis based on the data showing that early intervention and treatment of high-risk patients with COVID-19 results in significantly few hospitalizations and deaths. This treatment regimen involving zinc, low-dose hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin (published in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents ) is also apparently known as, “The Zelenko Protocol.” Quercetin and Zinc The Zelenko Covid-19 Protocols was developed by Dr Vladimir Zelenko. The protocol has as its centerpiece, but not exclusive piece, the combined use of  Hydroxychloroquine  (HCQ) and Zinc as a means by which a person can both help to prevent or mitigate the contraction of COVID-19, or can actually treat the disease once it has been diagnosed.  Quercetin is a natural antihistamine a
Read more

FLCCC I-CARE COVID Treatment Protocol for Outpatients (2024)

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
Early treatment is critical and the most important factor in managing this disease. COVID-19 is a clinical diagnosis; a confirmed antigen or PCR test is not required. Treatment should be initiated immediately after the onset of flu-like symptoms. The multiple therapies and drugs in this protocol have different mechanisms of action and work synergistically during various phases of the disease. About I-CARE Protocol The information in this document is our recommended approach to COVID-19 based on the best (and most recent) literature. It is provided as guidance to healthcare providers worldwide on the early treatment of COVID-19. Patients should always consult with their provider before starting any medical treatment. New medications may be added and/or changes made to doses of existing medications as further evidence emerges. Please be sure you are using the latest version of this protocol. Warning (anesthesia and surgery): Please notify your anesthesia team if you are using the followi
Read more

America's Frontline Doctors Early Treatment Protocol and Contact a Physician

By Dr Frank Yap, M.D. -
Image
  SELF-HELP without a Doctor ( source ) Zinc  50 mg daily (can take half twice daily if upset stomach) Quercetin  500 mg twice a day three times a day if sick (switch to HCQ/IVM if available) Vitamin D3  40,000-50,000 for five days Melatonin  5 mg - 20 mg nightly for 14 days stomach) Pepcid  40-80 daily 14 days – women or Cimetidine 400 daily -men Full Aspirin  (325 mg) daily one month N acetyl cysteine (NAC)  Up to 2000-2400 mg 1-2 days, then 1000-1200 mg for a week Treatment: Latest Prescriptions ( source ) Monoclonal Antibodies:  outpatient, FDA approved, early treatment, within 10 days Only. Note and Update: Omicron variant XBB found to be resistant to monoclonal antibody treatments ( New England Journal of Medicine . Dec 2022) HCQ  200 mg twice a day 7 days or IVM (weight based 0.4/kg) 20-36 mg daily 2-5 days Fenofibrate (Tricor – anti-lipid)  145 mg daily (inflammatory/cytokine phase. Antioxidant) Cyproheptadine (Periactin – antihistamine)  4 mg BID for 14 days (cytokine phase) D
Read more

Labels

Show more

Archive

Show more