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Colchicine shown to be effective at treating COVID-19 according to Montreal study

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  • Jan 22nd, 2021 11:25 pm
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Colchicine shown to be effective at treating COVID-19 according to Montreal study

https://www.lapresse.ca/covid-19/2021-0 ... vid-19.php

From Google Translate:
"Major breakthrough" Large study shows effectiveness of colchicine to treat COVID-19

PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, ARCHIVES THE PRESS

In 4,159 patients whose diagnosis of COVID-19 was proven using a PCR test, colchicine among other things led to a decrease in hospitalizations of 25%.

A large study launched last March by the Montreal Heart Institute announces a "major breakthrough" in the treatment of COVID-19. Its results show that the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine is effective in treating the disease and preventing its complications. It is the first oral medicine proven to be effective in treating patients before they are admitted to hospital.

Posted on January 22, 2021 at 9:55 p.m.
Updated at 11:12 p.m.
Antoine TrussartANTOINE TRUSSART
PRESS

"We have just provided the planet with hope," exclaims Dr Jean-Claude Tardif, principal investigator of the COLCORONA study and director of the research center of the Montreal Heart Institute (ICM). We finally have a first treatment that can help patients with COVID before their hospitalization to prevent hospitalizations, prevent intubations and prevent death. "

In 4,159 patients who present a risk factor for complications and whose diagnosis of COVID-19 has been proven using a PCR test, colchicine led to a decrease in hospitalizations of 25%, a decrease in the need for ventilation by 50% and a decrease in deaths of 44%. “This is a major breakthrough,” says Dr. Tardif.

“We wanted to quickly communicate our results, which can save lives and hospitalizations tomorrow,” he adds. We have just offered the first treatment for people caught with COVID and who are worried at home. "

Colchicine works to prevent the "major inflammatory storm" caused by COVID that is affecting the lungs and potentially sending patients to hospital, says Dr. Tardif.

"The prescription of colchicine to patients could help alleviate the problems of hospital congestion and reduce the costs related to the health systems of governments here and elsewhere", we can read in the press release from the ICM. late Friday night.

The researcher insists that there is no link between colchicine and chloroquine (or hydroxychloroquine), a drug that caused a stir last year and whose benefits for treating COVID have never been proven by a solid study.

The government of Quebec, public health authorities and the medical profession must now decide on the next steps for the implementation of the treatment of COVID-19 with colchicine, continues Jean-Claude Tardif.

For patients at risk of complications
The study was launched last March by Dr. Tardif at the ICM, with the help of a Quebec-wide team. Among the nearly 4,500 participants, 3,000 were in Quebec. The rest were in the United States, Brazil, Spain and South Africa.

Participants had to be diagnosed with COVID-19, be over 40, and be at least at risk for complications, such as overweight, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, or old age.

“As a practicing physician, I have no doubt that I would prescribe colchicine to prevent complications in a patient who is particularly at risk for complications,” he explains.

Colchicine is an anti-inflammatory drug commonly used in cardiology. It was discovered in the 19th century and initially used against gout. Some of its advantages are its low cost and few side effects. Dr Tardif has been studying it for several years for heart disease and has shown that it reduces the risk of recurrence in cardiac patients by more than a quarter.

"A real tour de force"
The COLCORONA project was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which provides the highest level of certainty in scientific research.

This means that one group of patients received colchicine and another group received a placebo. Neither the patients nor the researchers knew who received what at the time of the study, ensuring reliable results.

"It's a real tour de force," says Mr. Tardif. It is the largest study in the world to have looked at people with COVID before being hospitalized, he said.

Treatment consists of taking one colchicine tablet twice a day for the first three days after diagnosis and once a day for the next 27 days.

Of the 4,488 participants, 4,159 were diagnosed with COVID-19 using a nasopharyngeal test. The results are more convincing in these 4,159 patients. The other 329 were diagnosed with COVID based on their symptoms at the very start of the pandemic, at a time when testing was not yet readily available. The results in this smaller group of patients are less clear than in those whose diagnosis has been confirmed by a PCR test.

The study was funded by the Government of Quebec, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), Montreal philanthropist Sophie Desmarais and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

- With Mathieu Perreault, La Presse
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