Effect of Colchicine in Treating Severe COVID-19 Patients on Hospital Discharge: Retrospective Cohort Study

ABSTRACT

Background: COVID-19 is highly heterogeneous;it ranges from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia that could progress to critical illness with hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring oxygenation, ventilator support or even death. This aim of the present study is to examine the effect of adding colchicine to standard of care in treatment of severely hypoxemic hospitalized COVID-19 patients on patients' 28 days discharge. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective, single-centre cohort study to evaluate the effect of colchicine in the treatment of COVID-19 patients on 28 days discharge and mortality. Out of 201 patients, 153 patients, suspected and confirmed COVID-19, was included from Shebin Elkom Fever Hospital, Monofya Governorate, Egypt, from November 2020, to January 2021. Results: Among 201 patients enrolled, 153 (87.5%) patients were included in this study, and divided into two cohorts;78 patients (51%) in the non-colchicine group and 75 (49%) patients in the colchicine group. Among the 76 patients who were discharged within 28 days, 56 patients (74.67%) were in the colchicine group and 20 patients (25.64%) were in the non-colchicine group. Regarding 28-day mortality was, 77 patients died in the two groups during the 28 days from hospital admission;19 patients (23.68%) died in the colchicine group and 58 (76.32%) in the non-colchicine group (OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.001-0.10, p-value 0.000). Conclusion: Colchicine exerts an anti-inflammatory effect that has a great impact on decreasing oxygen demand and ICU admission compared to the non-colchicine arm. © 2022, Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine. All rights reserved.