ABSTRACT
Introduction: To date, no specific therapeutic drug has been approved to target SARS-CoV-2. Hence, it remains a major challenge to decide what potential therapeutic regimens to treat COVID-19 patients. This study aims to investigate curcumin and virgin coconut oil (VCO) effects on cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α, and IFN-β) in COVID-19 patients. Methods: This study was a single-center, controlled trial with a parallel Arm or a Randomized Clinical trial design. A total of sixty COVID-19 patients admitted to the Universitas Sebelas Maret Hospital, Surakarta, Indonesia, were divided into two groups. The first group, consisting of 30 patients, was treated with Azithromycin 500 mg + Oseltamivir 2×75 mg + Hydroxychloroquine 400 mg/day for 5 days. The second group, comprising 30 patients, was treated with Azithromycin 500 mg + Oseltamivir 2×75 mg + Hydroxychloroquine 400 mg/day for 5 days, added with VCO 30 mL and curcumin 3×1 g/day for 21 days. The cytokine profiles of the serum samples were analyzed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on days 1, 14, and 21. Results: Our study showed that the second group had a significant reduction in IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-β levels after being treated with standard therapy added with curcumin and VCO on day 21 (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results su ested that curcumin and VCO mi ht benefit the treatment of COVID-19 atients
ABSTRACT
Background: In the current COVID-19 pandemic, the number of hospital visits was significantly decreased. There was a decrease in the number of outpatient visits from 9911 patients in January to 5586 patients in May 2020 in UNS hospital. This study aims to know the association the level of stress, hospital service quality, and fear of COVID 19 with hospital visits at UNS Hospital. Research methods: The study was conducted at UNS Hospital in July 2020 using the questionnaire method. Research tools with hospital service quality questionnaire, stress level questionnaire, fear for COVID-19 scale. The patient group was divided into two, the on-time outpatient group, which always met the schedule visit doctor, and the loss of follow-up outpatient, which was a late schedule to the hospital. Statistical test using t-test and Mann Whitney test, p < 0,05. Results: The COVID-19 fear score (14.8 + 6.89) and the stress level (13.95 + 6.1) were higher in the out of follow-up outpatients compared to on-time outpatients. While the hospital service quality scores were quite right in all study groups and were not significantly different in the two groups (mean 21.70 + 2.08). The results showed that the lost follow-up outpatients were associated with COVID-19 fear scores (p = 0.001) and stress levels (p = 0.001), and were not related to hospital quality service levels. Conclusion: The level of stress and fear of COVID 19 decrease hospital visits at UNS Hospital.