A large UK study has found that the widely used diabetes drug, metformin, may significantly reduce the risk of developing Long COVID among people who are overweight or obese.
Drawing on more than 1.8 million clinical records from 624,308 individuals, researchers observed that patients who began taking metformin within 90 days of a COVID-19 infection were 64% less likely to later be diagnosed with Long COVID. The results, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, provide real-world evidence supporting earlier clinical trial data.
Although the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, many survivors continue to experience lingering health problems. Known as Long COVID, or post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), these disorders can involve more than 200 symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, “brain fog,” and sleep disturbances.
The World Health Organization defines PCC as symptoms that persist for at least two months, usually starting within three months of the initial infection.
In the UK alone, government surveys suggest that over 1.9 million people — about 2.9% of the population, were living with Long COVID as of March 2023.
Because the biological mechanisms behind the condition remain poorly understood, researchers have been exploring accessible and low-cost ways to reduce the risk.
The new findings suggest metformin, an inexpensive and widely available drug, could provide a preventive benefit for people at higher weights, potentially improving long-term health and quality of life for this at-risk group.
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