Anti-Androgens May Protect Against Severe COVID-19 Outcomes: Results From a Prospective Cohort Study of 77 Hospitalized Men
January 2021
in “
Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
”
TLDR Anti-androgens, like finasteride, dutasteride, and spironolactone, may lessen the severity of COVID-19 in men, leading to fewer ICU admissions.
A prospective cohort study involving 77 hospitalized men found that the use of anti-androgens could potentially reduce the severity of COVID-19 outcomes. The study divided the participants into two groups: those who had been on anti-androgens for at least 6 months before hospitalization and those who hadn't. The results indicated a significantly lower rate of ICU admission in the group taking anti-androgens (8%) compared to the group not taking them (58%), even after adjusting for age. Anti-androgens like finasteride, dutasteride, and spironolactone could potentially improve outcomes for men infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, due to the small study size, the authors recommend larger studies for further investigation.