May Patients Receiving 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors Be at Higher Risk of COVID-19 Complications?

    April 2020 in “ Medical hypotheses ”
    Jan Adamowicz, Kajetan Juszczak, Tomasz Drewa
    TLDR Men on 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors might have worse COVID-19 outcomes.
    The document hypothesized that 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, used for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), might contribute to poorer COVID-19 outcomes in males. This was based on the observation that males had a 65% higher mortality rate from COVID-19 compared to females. The inhibitors, such as finasteride and dutasteride, could disrupt androgen metabolism in the lungs, potentially impairing lung regeneration and surfactant production, which are crucial for recovery from severe COVID-19-related pneumonia. The hypothesis suggested that patients on these medications might be at higher risk for severe COVID-19 complications, warranting further interdisciplinary research to optimize treatment protocols.
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