Is Osteoporosis Treatment Effective Against Corona Infection?

In addition to the drugs used for antiviral therapies, the treatment of osteoporosis for COVID-19 is also useful. While some drugs, such as hydroxychloroquine, have not worked as expected, various other drugs are being tested for malaria and viruses. Furthermore, frequent administration of such a bone loss agent could protect against coronavirus infection.

Effectiveness of osteoporosis treatment against Sars-CoV-2

According to a new study, denosumab, zoledronate and calcium therapy could also lower the incidence of COVID-19. The research was conducted by professors from the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Pompeu Fabra University and Pere Virgili Health Park. According to this, the treatments could reduce the COVID-19 infection rate by 30 to 40 percent. According to one of the authors of the study, there are indications that this hypothesis is possible. This claims that some medications used to treat rheumatic diseases could positively affect the natural history of COVID-19. They do this by reducing the incidence or reducing the frequency of progression of severe cases.

The study analyzed data from over 2,000 patients with osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia and their relationship to COVID-19. So the researchers found a low incidence of COVID-19 in some of these patients. This has led her to study various treatments and the development of rheumatism patients with non-inflammatory diseases, as well as their relationship to COVID-19 infection. The team also looked at hospitalization needs and mortality. So, according to the researchers, osteoporosis treatment can affect the body and its immune system in ways that reduce the risk of the disease.

Effects of accompanying therapy

Hence, denosumab is a drug that aims to improve balance in the skeletal system. It can also boost the immune response by activating and differentiating some of its cells. This inhibition modifies the inflammatory response and acts on cytokines, which also play a key role in COVID-19. Zoledronate, another osteoporosis drug, can also modulate the immune response and stimulate its activity against SARS-CoV-2. This study also found that these patients received other common antidepressant treatments. A drug called duloxetine, for example, can also have a positive effect on reducing the incidence of COVID-19. In light of these findings, the study authors suspect that concomitant treatment for osteoporosis should continue to be given to patients. Promising results with duloxetine also prove significant. However, studies with larger numbers of patients are needed to verify this.