Greek health experts at the Ministry of Health have given the green light for the administration of colchicine, a well-known and cardiac drug, to be included in the oral treatment protocol for inpatients with Covid-19.
The approval was apparently given following the results of a notable Canadian study in which Greece also participated.
The Canadian study COLCORONA showed that the administration of colchicine to covid-19 patients “reduced mortality by 44%, hospitalization by 25% hospitalization and the need for mechanical ventilation by 50%”. Defteraios explains.
According to the state-run news agency Amna, the committee in Greece decided “the administration of colchicine according to a doctor’s prescription in certain categories of patients with a positive coronavirus molecular test.”
The administration is given to all patients older than 60 who have a positive molecular test, regardless of whether they have underlying diseases. Also patients 18-60 with at least one underlying health problem or fever older than 38 for at least 48 hours.
COVID-19 is often worse in people over 60 years of age or with underlying health conditions such as lung or heart disease, diabetes or conditions that affect their immune system.
The decision was taken on Saturday and will be officially announced by the National Health Organization EODY.
The Canadian COLCORONA study was conducted among 4500 Covid-19 patients.
Greece also participated in the study with the national coordinator, Professor Spyros Defteraios, and members Sotiris Tsiodras, Panagiotis Gargalianos, D. Vrachatis and S. Giotakis, and activated centers in Athens, Kozani (Dr. Eythalia Randou), Alexandroupoli (Prof. Periklis Panagopoulos) Thriasio Hospital. (Dr. Christoforos Olympios) and Patras (Prof. Markos Marangos).
The Canadian study follows the 1st published randomized study GRECCO-19 covering 16 centers in Greece and scientific input from the Universities Humanitas Clinical Research Hospital (Italy), Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe (Spain), Mount Sinai (USA), Yale ( USA)
Professor Gargalianos spoke to AMNA and pointed out that the Canadian study confirms the initial findings of the European study.
“We have clearly seen in this study that a significant decrease in the need for hospitalization in patients who received the drug in the early stages of the disease, a better progression of the disease and reduction of serious diseases as well as a reduction in mortality. “
The anti-inflammatory effect of colchicine has been known for years as it is a safe, inexpensive and effective remedy used by cardiologists including pericarditis.
Colchicine is believed to have therapeutic, anti-inflammatory properties in pericarditis, which has been used for over 100 years. Administration to Covid-19 patients began when scientists thought it would protect the body from the negative inflammatory effects caused by the SARS-CoV-2.
The study was launched in March 2020 and cost $ 14 million. The Quebec government and several organizations funded the study.