Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen, are safe and do not appear to increase the rates of death or severe disease in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, suggests an observational study that included over 72,000 individuals in the UK.

Led by the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium Clinical Characterisation Protocol United Kingdom (ISARIC CCP-UK), the study provided evidence that continued use of NSAIDs in patients with COVID-19 appears to be safe. Around one-third of patients, i.e. 30.4%, who had taken NSAIDs before hospitalization for COVID-19 died. This rate was similar (31.3%) in patients who had not taken NSAIDs. The findings are published in The Lancet Rheumatology… (ET Healthworld – IANS, May 9, 2021)