Eicosapentaenoic acid, icosapent ethyl found to reduce Covid-19 severity
A high dose of the purified form of eicosapentaenoic acid, icosapent ethyl, could reduce death or indication for hospitalization in Covid-19 patients. However, the researchers said that it did not help significantly reduce hospitalizations or death in patients infected with COVID-19 in the PREPARE-IT 2 study. The study did show a positive result, with a 16 percent reduction in the primary endpoint of death or an indication for hospitalization. All secondary endpoints were also numerically reduced, but none reached statistical significance, the researchers said. The product was also well tolerated over the 28 days of the study period, even though a new high-loading dose was used, with no increase in atrial fibrillation or bleeding or other adverse events vs placebo, although there was a slightly higher rate of discontinuation. The trial was presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions on November 15 by Rafael Díaz, MD, director of Estudios Clínicos Latinoamérica in Rosario, Argentina.