Analysis of the effectiveness of the administration of tocilizumab in patients admitted to an intermediate respiratory care unit with a diagnosis of severe coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia: a prospective observational study with propensity score matching

Background: We evaluated the effects of tocilizumab therapy in semi-critical patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia.Objectives: To clarify the effect of tocilizumab on mortality among patients hospitalized for severe COVID-19 pneumonia, we conducted an observational study in an IRCU of a COVID-19 monographic hospital.We also aimed to analyze the effect of tocilizumab on the probability of receiving IMV and on the composite probability of receiving IMV or death.Material and method: We conducted a prospective observational study in patients admitted to an intermediate respiratory care unit (IRCU) for severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring non-invasive respiratory support (NIRS).We established two groups of patients according to whether or not they had received tocilizumab, respectively.