Title: Ursodeoxycholic acid is associated with better clinical outcome in COVID - 19 patients: a population based cohort study
Abstract:
Background: Several studies have investigated the relationship between ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, complex and conflicting results have caused confusion in the application of these results. We aimed to investigate whether the association between UDCA and COVID can also be demonstrated through analysis of a large-scale cohort
Methods: This retrospective cohort study used internal and external validation cohorts: the Jeonbuk common data model (CDM) cohort (JBUH-CDM) and the Korean National Health Insurance claim-based database (NHIS), respectively. We investigated UDCA intake and its relationship with COVID-19 susceptibility and severity using validated propensity score (PS) matching
Results: Regarding the COVID-19 susceptibility UDCA intake is associated with being significantly lowered to 0.71 in JBUH-CDM (hazard ratio; HR) (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.52-0.98) value was significantly lowered to 0.93 (95% CI: 0.90-0.96) in the NHIS. Regarding the COVID-19 severity, UDCA intake was analyzed to be significantly lowered to 0.21 (95% CI: 0.09-0.46) in JBUH-CDM. It was also found that the HR value was significantly lowered to 0.77 in NHIS (95% CI: 0.62-0.95)
Discussion: Using a large-scale local cohort and an external validation cohort, we confirmed that UDCA intake was significantly associated with the reduction of COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. These trends remained consistent regardless of UDCA dosage. This suggests the potential of UDCA as a preventive and therapeutic agent for COVID-19
Audience Take Away Notes:
- Based on internal and external validation cohorts, UDCA intake is associated with lower susceptibility (internal cohort: HR 0.71, external validation cohort: HR 0.93) and lower severity (internal cohort: HR 0.21, external validation cohort: HR 0.77)
- Using a large-scale local cohort and an external validation cohort, we confirmed that UDCA intake was significantly associated with the reduction of COVID-19 susceptibility and severity. These trends remained consistent regardless of UDCA dosage. This suggests the potential of UDCA as a preventive and therapeutic agent for COVID-19
