Antiviral drug treatment profiles and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients at public hospitals in Erbil city

Ronia Shawksat  Kawther; Sherzad Ali  Ismael; Maaroof Tahseen  Hassan

doi:10.56056/amj.2024.273

Authors

Ronia Shawksat Kawther Trainee at Infection disease control department of public health, Kurdistan higher council for medical specialties, Rizghary Hospital, Erbil city-Kurdistan region/Iraq
Sherzad Ali Ismael Assistant Professor in Community Medicine,Chairman of Public Health council, Kurdistan higher council for medical specialties, Erbil City-Kurdistan region/Iraq
Maaroof Tahseen Hassan Assistant Professor in Community Medicine. Program Director of Infection Disease Control Department, Deputy President of Kurdistan higher council for medical specialties, Erbil city-Kurdistan region/Iraq.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56056/amj.2024.273

Keywords:

Antibiotic drugs, Antiviral drugs, Clinical outcomes, COVID-19, Supplement

Abstract

Background & objectives: The World Health Organization has identified COVID-19 as a rapidly spreading global disease. Some antiviral drugs have shown promising efficacy in treating COVID-19. This study aims to identify the effects of antiviral drugs and compare them with other therapies in COVID-19 patients, while reviewing the clinical outcomes of these treatments.

Methods: This observational retrospective case study included 451 COVID-19 patients, comprising 57.0% males and 43% females, conducted in Rizgari, Erbil, at Central Emergency, Rozhawa Emergency, and Emirate Hospitals over one year from December 2020 to December 2021. COVID-19 cases were confirmed using reverse transcriptase polymerase-chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays, and treatment followed the WHO guidelines, involving antivirals (Remdesivir, Favipiravir), broad-spectrum antibiotics (levofloxacin, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, meropenem, imipenem), and supportive treatment with Becozym (Vitamins B1 + B2 + B3 + B5 + B6). Data were recorded in the statistical department of the hospitals.

Results: The total age range of the 451 patients was 95 (18-113) with a mean ± SD of 59.408 ± 18.26 years. The death rate was 22.39%. A majority of the survival patients were in the young age group (95.1%), while the death rate was higher in the old age group (more than 75 years). The death rate of patients treated with antiviral drug Remdesivir was 15.30%, while it was 37.93%, 73.45%, 15.25%, and 14.15% in patients on levofloxacin, ceftriaxone, meropenem, and Becozyme, espectively. Logistic regression analysis did not show any role of treatments in decreasing mortality.

Conclusions: Significant differences were observed in clinical outcomes; the majority of surviving patients were in the young age group, while older COVID-19 patients had worse illnesses and treatment outcomes. Diabetes and hypertension were significant predictors of COVID-19 mortality. Although Remdesivir treatment showed a statistically significant association between survival and death cohorts, it was not considered a predictor variable for survival. Antibiotics and supplement drugs like Becozyme were also not considered predictors of survival for COVID-19 patients.

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