The outcomes of this propensity score-matched cohort study suggested that in the absence of serious disease, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be safely recommended in the current pandemic. Prescription of NSAIDs (other than topicals) in primary care did not amplify the susceptibility to COVID-19 or death.

To assess if the use of NSAIDs increases the likelihood of developing suspected or definite COVID-19 compared to other analgesics.

This study comprised of active comparators. The study cohort consisted of osteoarthritis (OA) patients aged 18 years or more who were followed up for 6 months. The unmatched cohorts comprised of patients who were given NSAID (not topical formulation) (13,202 patients) and propensity score-matched cohorts comprised of patients who were given paracetamol/codeine or paracetamol/dihydrocodeine (12,457 patients). The records of suspected or definite COVID-19 were the primary outcome measure and mortality the secondary outcome measure.

Rates of frequency of suspected or definite COVID-19 in the unmatched cohorts were estimated at 15.4 in the NSAID group and 19.9 per 1000 person-years in the comparator group (other analgesics) during follow-up. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for suspected or definite COVID-19 between both the cohorts, using data from clinical consultations in primary care and for the possibility of all-cause mortality have been displayed in the following table:

CI: Confidence interval

Table 1: Possibility of COVID-19 or mortality in OA patients prescribed with NSAIDs and co-codamol or co-dydramol 

Age or gender did not affect the study outcomes.

As compared to other analgesics in this study, the use of NSAIDs did not increase the risk of suspected or definite COVID-19 or mortality in OA patients.