Effectiveness of pharmaceutical interventions on the clinical outcome of COVID-19 severe infection

Abstract

Introduction Coronavirus is a pathogen that is responsible for the outbreak is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2). This study investigated laboratory findings and the effect of different drugs on the survival of COVID-19 patients. Methods This was a retrospective single center study of 203 COVID19 inpatients. Patients included in this study were adults with moderate to severe COVID-19 symptoms including respiratory manifestations. Results Among 203 patients 88(43.3%) died while 115 (56.7%) survived. Among 65 patients on Favipiravir, 39 of patients died. Mortality in patients taking Azithromycin, Meropenem, Ceftriaxone and Linezolid were 28%, 64.2%, 23.9% and 65% respectively. Imipenem-Cilastatin Sodium was administered by 14 patients, only 4 of those were recovered. Fifty-seven patients on azithromycin survived and 16 died, while 88% out of the 25 patients taking Moxifloxacin survived. Survival in the 48 patients taking vancomycin was 20.8%. There was a significant difference between survival and death in all laboratory parameters. Statistical analysis also showed independent predictors of mortality per drug. Higher survival rates were also noted in patients on Dexamethasone, but not in hydrocortisone or prednisolone. The use of Enoxaparin, rather than clopidogrel, aspirin or heparin was also shown to be related to lower mortality. Conclusion The data gives an overview about the pharmacological management of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The study findings might help to identify the drugs with positive outcome and lower mortality.