Remdesivir use and efficacy in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia

ABSTRACT

Background and importanceRemdesivir is a viral RNA polymerase inhibitor. After the NIAID ACTT-1 study results, it currently is an antiviral medicine used to treat coronavirus disease 2019.Aim and objectivesDescribe use of remdesivir based on current epidemiological trends.Describe results of use of remdesivir in clinical practice.Compare our research results with those of the NIAD ATCC-1 study.Material and methodsRetrospective observational study, all patients treated with remdesivir were included for two study periods first stage (July–December 2020) and second stage (January–March 2021). Demographic and clinical variables were collected. Data were obtained from electronic medical records and prescription applications. Nineteen patients were included in the study.ResultsAt the beginning (n (%)) 1st stage (n=14) 2nd stage (n=5) Median age (years) 57.2 56.8 Sex Female 5 (35.7) 2 (40) Male 9 (64.3) 3 (60) Prescription ICU 6 (43) 1 (20) No ICU 8 (57) 4 (80) Charlson Comorbidity Index 2.94 2.90 Symptom days 6.1 5.9 Days of treatment 5 5 Treated with dexamethasone 10 (71.4) 4 (80) Oxygen saturation 90.7 92.6 Respiratory support 14 (100) 3 (60) Type of respiratory support Vmask (30–60%) 3 (21,4) 1 (20) Nasal prongs 11 (78,6) 2 (40) Total admission days 11.5 10 At 28 days (n (%)) 1st stage (n=14) 2nd stage (n=5) Respiratory support 3 (21.4) 0 (0) Died 1 (7.14) 0 (0) Not hospitalised 9 (64.3) 5 (100) Conclusion and relevanceIn both stages remdesivir was used in a similar way in patients with similar basal characteristics. Treatment days were 5, instead of 10 days as in the pivotal study, due to regulation of Spanish health officials’ instructions in patients who did not require mechanical ventilation.Patients treated with remdesivir presented a recovery time with an average of 11.5 and 10 days, respectively. These data matched those of the previous study.Similar to previous research, lack of a control group and the small sample size must be mentioned, and because of this the magnitude of clinical benefit could not be estimated.References and/or acknowledgementsConflict of interestNo conflict of interest