Abstract
Objectives:To see the difference in mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients given Remdesivir (RDV) with those who were not given RDV.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted on patients who were admitted to the COVID-19 isolation unit at The Indus Hospital, Korangi Campus Karachi between March and June 2020.Results:Groups were similar in age and gender distribution. RDV group was more hypoxic, had severe ARDS and needed higher Oxygen support compared to non-RDV group (p=0.000). Median SOFA score was 2 in RDV vs 5 in non-RDV (p=0.000). More than moderate COVID pneumonia was found in 92% of the RDV group while 89% of non-RDV group (p value=0.001). Median day of illness to administer Remdesivir was 10. There was no difference in mortality (45.5% in RDV vs 40.4% in non-RDV; p=0.4) between the two groups. Median length of hospital stay was 12 days (IQR=7.5-14.5) in RDV group compared to 10 days (IQR=6-14) in non-RDV group (p=0.009).Conclusion:RDV did not show any difference in in-hospital mortality in our patients. More patients had severe ARDS in the RDV group while patients in the non-RDV group had higher SOFA score and multi-organ failure. Length of stay was longer in patients receiving Remdesivir.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged in December 2019 and rapidly became a pandemic
Contraindications to the use of Remdesivir were pre-existing hepatic dysfunction as manifested by Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) levels more than 5 times the upper limit of normal and reduced Glomerular filtration rate (
Table-I: Characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted at The Indus Hospital-Korangi Campus
Summary
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged in December 2019 and rapidly became a pandemic. As of 203,178,675 people are infected, including four million deaths.. As of 203,178,675 people are infected, including four million deaths.1 This led to the search of desperate public health measures including the quest for effective treatments. Despite the fact that a number of therapeutic agents have been tested for the treatment of Covid-19, no antiviral drug has proved to be efficacious.. Experts from the World Health Organization initiated mortality trials comparing four drugs including Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, Lopinavir, and interferon beta-1a.3. The rate of mortality, initiation of ventilation, and length of hospital stay were not definitely reduced by any of the trial drug. Despite the fact that a number of therapeutic agents have been tested for the treatment of Covid-19, no antiviral drug has proved to be efficacious. Experts from the World Health Organization initiated mortality trials comparing four drugs including Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, Lopinavir, and interferon beta-1a.3 The rate of mortality, initiation of ventilation, and length of hospital stay were not definitely reduced by any of the trial drug.
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