Background: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, which triggered the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, has necessitated an immediate and comprehensive assessment of antiviral treatment options. Remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral, was granted emergency use authorization for hospitalized Coronavirus disease 2019 patients; however, its clinical efficacy and safety remain under debate. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Remdesivir compared to Non-Remdesivir regimens in hospitalized patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019, with a specific focus on adverse drug reaction, clinical outcomes, mortality. Methods: A six-month retrospective observational study was carried out at a tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru. Medical records of 300 hospitalized Coronavirus Disease 2019 patients were reviewed, of whom 150 received Remdesivir and 150 did not. Clinical parameters and outcomes were analyzed using independent t-tests. Results: Patients in the Non-Remdesivir group exhibited significantly lower levels of inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and ferritin (P < 0.05). They also demonstrated improved Peripheral Capillary Oxygen Saturation, reduced duration of hospital stays, and better adiological improvement on chest X-ray. Importantly, all 20 recorded deaths occurred in the Remdesivir group. Additionally, a higher incidence of adverse drug reactions was observed among Remdesivir recipients. Conclusion: Non-Remdesivir therapy demonstrated more favorable clinical outcomes and a superior safety profile compared to Remdesivir. These findings underscore the need for cautious use of Remdesivir and further large-scale randomized controlled trials.
Vithya Thirumoorthi1, Shankar Prasad R.2, Sam Blesson Jaganathan3*, Ajmal Siyad M.4, Akshatha K. A.5, Zahra Bahmani6 (Wed,) studied this question.