ABSTRACT
To date the optimal antiviral treatment against severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has not been proven; remdesivir is a promising drug with in vitro activity against several viruses, but in COVID-19 the clinical results are currently not definitive. In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed the clinical outcomes (survival analysis, efficacy, and safety) in a group of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 treated with remdesivir in comparison with a control group of patients treated with other antiviral or supportive therapies. We included 163 patients treated with remdesivir and 403 subjects in the control group; the baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups; the mortality rate was higher in the control group (24.8% vs. 2.4%, p < 0.001), the risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission was higher in the control group (17.8% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.008); hospitalization time was significantly lower in patients treated with remdesivir (9.5 vs. 12.5 days, p < 0.001). The safety of remdesivir was good and no significant adverse events were reported. In multivariate analysis, the remdesivir treatment was independently associated with a 34% lower mortality rate (odds ratio = 0.669; p = 0.014). In this analysis, the treatment with remdesivir was associated with lower mortality, lower rate of ICU admission, and shorter time of hospitalization. No adverse events were observed. This promising antiviral treatment should also be confirmed by other studies.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 Drug Treatment , Adenosine Monophosphate/analogs & derivatives , Alanine/analogs & derivatives , Alanine/therapeutic use , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Case-Control Studies , Humans , SARS-CoV-2 , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is strongly related to interstitial pneumonia with frequent development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The role of corticosteroids (CS) treatment in these patients is still controversial. Some studies evidenced a possible role of an early short-term course of CS treatment in the treatment of severe pneumonia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a single-center, retrospective study considering the patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to our hospital between 9th March and 15th June 2020. Two groups were considered: early high-dose of methyl-prednisolone (eHDM; n â= â31) and the control group (n â= â52). Patients in the eHDM group received the dose of 5-8 âmg/kg/day of methyl-prednisolone for 2 consecutive days. Primary outcome was the mortality evaluation; secondary outcomes were clinical improvement, side-effects and laboratory/radiographic changes. RESULTS: Significant differences between the two groups were: length of hospitalization (21.5 vs 28.4 days, p â= â0.026), length of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or mechanical ventilation (11.5 vs 14.5 days, p â= â0.031), death (5 vs 12, p â= â0.006) and clinical improvement (16 vs 11, p=0.018). The following factors were related to in-hospital mortality in the multivariate analysis: comorbidities (OR â= â2.919; 95%CI â= â1.515-16.705; p<0.001), days from the onset of symptoms and the hospital admission (OR â= â1.404; 95%CI â= â1.069-12.492; p â= â0.011), PaO2/FiO2 (P/F) ratio (OR â= â3.111; 95%CI â= â2.334-16.991; p â= â0.009) and eHDM treatment (OR â= â0.741; 95%CI â= â0.129-0.917; p â= â0.007). CONCLUSION: The eHDM is an interesting and promising approach in the ARDS related to COVID-19 pneumonia, which reduces mortality, length of hospitalization and the need for mechanical ventilation.
