COVID-19 is a new infectious disease which hit the world in 2020 or late 2019 and is the subject for several studies as scientists grapple with its novelty. A new study has shown that aspirin can reduce the risk of patient’s deaths as well as their admittance to the ICU.

The researchers from George Washington University School of Medicine, who led the study, said their findings show that aspirin is a fast, cheap and easy alternative when compared with other medications. Many coronavirus patients had thrombotic complications and blood clots formed in their bodies. So, they decided to use aspirin as it is a commonly recognized blood thinner.

The team published the study in the Anesthesia & Analgesia journal. The results showed that 44% of the patients who took aspirin had decreased chances of needing a ventilator and 43% were less likely to take a trip to the ICU. There was also a 47% decrease in the death rates of those patients who took aspirin.

So, the authors of the study concluded that patients who took aspirin may have improved outcomes as far as hospitalizations and deaths were considered, when compared with those who did not take the drug. However, there said that there is a necessity for large trials with aspirin.

This is not the first instance where aspirin has proved its efficacy. Another study found that more than   30,000 veterans who had been infected with the coronavirus and had been given aspirin due to pre-existing conditions had an up to 50% decrease in death at 30 days though the researchers said that more data was required for a firm conclusion.

Aspirin is used to treat a wide variety of aches and pains. It is used to relieve headaches, colds, and arthritis as well as muscle injuries. Take an aspirin is a common refrain. It is also used as an anti-platelet agent to minimize the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Its blood thinning properties make it a possible treatment for decreasing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.