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\begin{document}

\title{Metformin and outcomes in COVID-19 infection: an electronic cohort study
from Wales, UK}



\author[1]{James Coulson}%
\author[2]{Mike Seaborne}%
\author[3]{Robert Bracchi}%
\author[2]{Murugarajan Athiyappan}%
\author[2]{Sinead Brophy}%
\affil[1]{Cardiff University}%
\affil[2]{Swansea University}%
\affil[3]{All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre}%


\vspace{-1em}



  
  \date{June 15, 2024}


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\begin{abstract}
There is considerable interest in repurposing metformin as an adjunctive
therapy in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19. The
efficacy, optimum dose and relevant target-population are, however,
undefined. This study used data from the Secure Anonymised Information
Linkage (SAIL) Databank to test the hypothesis that COVID-19 outcomes,
in terms of hospital admissions or death, were lower in adults with
prescribed metformin compared with those not prescribed metformin.
10,247 patient records were identified, of which 2,123 (21\%) were
prescribed metformin. In those who were either admitted or died within
14 days of a positive COVID-19 result, the mean time to admission (or
death) was comparable in both the metformin and metformin groups at 5.3
days (CI95\% 5.0-5.7) and 5.7 days (CI95\% 5.5-5.9), respectively. There
is no evidence from this study that metformin is associated with any
benefit to those who contract COVID-19 in the community if they are
already prescribed metformin.%
\end{abstract}%



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