Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) was found to be associated with a significantly lesser likelihood of death due to COVID-19 in a large analysis of health records from 87 healthcare centers in the United States, in comparison with not taking the medications.

The study, published in JAMA Network Open, adds to the evidence that SSRIs may be beneficial against the worst symptoms of COVID-19. Researchers assessed electronic health records from the Cerner Real World COVID-19 de-identified database. It had 83,584 adult patients with COVID-19 diagnosed from January through September 2020. A total of 3,401 patients were given SSRIs.

Patients prescribed the SSRI fluoxetine had a 28% lesser likelihood of death while those on either fluoxetine or another SSRI fluvoxamine were 26% less likely to die, noted researchers. Overall, patients taking any kind of SSRI were 8% less likely to die compared to matched patient controls… (ET Healthworld – PTI, November 16, 2021)