Colchicine to reduce coronavirus disease-19-related inflammation and cardiovascular complications in high-risk patients post-acute infection with SARS-COV-2-a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: There is no known effective pharmacological therapy for long COVID, which is characterized by wide-ranging, multisystemic, fluctuating, or relapsing symptoms in a large proportion of survivors of acute COVID. This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the safety and efficacy of an anti-inflammatory agent colchicine, to reduce symptoms among those at high risk of developing long COVID.

Methods: This multi-centre, parallel arm, 1:1 individual randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind superiority trial will enrol 350 individuals with persistent post-COVID symptoms.