Ibuprofen does not worsen Covid-19 cases

Contrary to what we feared at the start of the pandemic, it is not dangerous to take anti-inflammatory drugs from the ibuprofen family if you have Covid-19. A recent study assures us that “The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is not associated with an increase in mortality or the severity of Covid-19”. This was determined in a large study by British health authorities, published in the medical journal The Lancet Rheumatology, and covering 72,000 patients. 

“We now have clear evidence that NSAIDs can be used safely in patients with Covid-19,” commented lead study author Prof Ewen Harrison from the University of Edinburgh. “NSAIDs are widely used around the world in many situations, ranging from mild pain to the treatment of chronic diseases,” such as rheumatoid arthritis. “Many people rely on them to be able to carry out their daily activities,” recalled the researcher.

In reaching this conclusion, the study authors examined data from 72,000 Covid patients admitted to 255 care centers in England, Scotland, and Wales, between January and August 2020. Of these, 4,211 had taken NSAIDs (mainly ibuprofen) before their hospitalization. Furthermore, the proportion of deaths was similar in patients who took NSAIDs and those who did not (30.4% and 31.3%).