Pfizer's paxlovid reduces the risk of COVID-19 by 26%

A recent preprint paper on paxlovid and the risk of COVID-19 sequelae has been published.

The study showed that taking paxlovid significantly reduced the risk of sequelae during COVID-19 infection.

This included a 26% lower risk of PASC, a 48% lower risk of post-acute death, and a 30% lower risk of post-acute hospitalization.

The study used the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare database to identify at least one person who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, was not hospitalized on the day of the positive test, and progressed to severe COVID-19 between March 1, 2022 and June 30, 2022 Risk factors for disease and health system users who survived the first 30 days after the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2.

Those who received oral nirmatrelvir within 5 days of testing positive (n = 9217) and those who did not receive antiviral or antibody treatment for COVID-19 during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection (control group, n = 47,123).

nirmatrelvir treatment was associated with a reduced risk of PASC compared to the control group (HR 0.74 95%CI (0.69, 0.81), ARR 2.32 (1.73, 2.91), including a reduction in 10 of 12 acute sequelae of the cardiovascular system (arrhythmia and ischemic heart disease), Clotting and haematological disorders (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism), fatigue, liver disease, acute kidney disease, muscle pain, neurocognitive impairment and shortness of breath. Nirmatrelvir was also associated with reduced risk after acute death (HR 0.52 (0.35, 0.77), ARR 0.28 (0.14, 0.41)) and acute hospitalization (HR 0.70 (0.61, 0.80), ARR 1.09 (0.72, 1.46)).

Long-term COVID-19 -- including the acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) -- affects millions of people around the world. Prevention of PASC is an urgent public health priority.