# Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir use reduces risk for long COVID in patients with immunodeficiency

## TL;DR

Using nirmatrelvir/ritonavir during early SARS-CoV-2 infection may lower the risk of long COVID in immunodeficient patients.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduces long COVID risk in immunodeficient individuals for the first time.

## Key findings

- Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment during acute infection lowers long COVID risk in immunodeficient patients.
- Early antiviral intervention may help prevent long-term effects in this vulnerable population.
- Prospective studies are needed to confirm these retrospective findings.

## Abstract

Our retrospective study highlights that acute use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir significantly reduces the risk of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (long COVID) in immunodeficient patients, emphasizing the need for clinical trials that include this high-risk population.

A retrospective study indicates that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir treatment during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly reduces the risk of long COVID in patients with immunodeficiency. These findings may support early antiviral intervention to mitigate long-term sequelae in this vulnerable population, though prospective validation is required.