Aspirin reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes associated with COVID-19
This study aimed to determine whether daily low-dose aspirin reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) associated with COVID-19. A longitudinal cohort of 200,000 adults followed from 2018 to 2022 was analyzed, comparing T2D incidence between aspirin users and non-users. Propensity score matching was used to balance the groups. The incidence of T2D was substantially lower in the aspirin group, with Cox regression showing a 52% risk reduction. Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed a significant divergence in cumulative T2D risk after two years. This protective effect was observed both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a stronger association during the pandemic period. These findings indicate that daily low-dose aspirin significantly reduces the risk of COVID-19-associated new-onset T2D, highlighting the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of T2D triggered or unmasked by COVID-19.
Authors
- Francesco Rozza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6631-6230)
- Roberto Piccinocchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9257-1123)
- Carmine Morisco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2158-6317)
- Gaetano Santulli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7231-375X)
- Bruno Trimarco
- Daniela Pacella (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2343-5069)
- Raffaele Izzo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0308-2836)
- Maria Virginia Manzi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1979-7131)
- Stanislovas S. Jankauskas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0843-5098)
- Giuseppe Giugliano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1467-1687)
- Alessandra Spinelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6058-4912)
- Maria Lembo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6454-2560)
- Paola Gallo
- Giovanni Esposito (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0565-7127)
- Gaetano Piccinocchi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6361-5729)
- Valentina Trimarco (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5869-2247)
Institutions
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine (US)
- Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (US)
- Federico II University Hospital (IT)
- Società Italiana di Medicina Generale (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Metabolic Health and Disease
- Published
- 2025-06-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s44324-025-00072-3
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Diabetes Treatment and Management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.29
Funders
- American Heart Association
- European Commission
- National Institutes of Health
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences