Clozapine treatment and risk of COVID-19.
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Peer-reviewed
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Abstract
The antipsychotic clozapine is known to have immune-modulating effects. Clozapine treatment has been reported to be associated with increased risk of COVID-19 infection. However, it remains unclear whether this is because of increased testing of this patient group, who are closely monitored. We linked anonymised health records from mental health services in Cambridgeshire (UK), for patients taking antipsychotic medication, with data from the local COVID-19 testing hub. Patients receiving clozapine were more likely to be tested for COVID-19, but not to test positive. Increased testing in patients receiving clozapine suggests prudent judgement by clinicians, considering the overall health vulnerabilities of this group.
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Funder: NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre
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2056-4724
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Medical Research Council (MC_PC_17213)
MQ: Transforming Mental Health (MQDS17\40)
Medical Research Council (MR/S037675/1)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (IS-BRC-1215-20014)
MRC (via Swansea University) (DATAMIND 106893)
Medical Research Council (MR/W014386/1)