To Determine the Efficacy of Remdesivir in Covid-19

PURPOSE: To Determine the Efficacy of Remdesivir in Covid-19 METHODS & MATERIALS: We conducted an interventional, single-center study. Two groups were made. First group was labeled ‘Remdesivir group’, to whom after Informed Consent Injection Remdesivir (200 mg on the first day followed by 100 mg per day for next four days) was given. Second group was the ‘Control group’, to whom injection Remdesivir was not given. Patients in both groups had corona virus disease confirmed either through nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR or HRCT. Convenience sampling technique with lottery method was used to make comparable groups. On admission all patients were oxygen dependent. The primary outcome was to compare the time to recovery, defined by ‘Number of days spent in hospital to maintain oxygen saturation of at least 93% on room air’. The secondary outcome was to determine overall mortality benefit, defined by decreased mortality incidence. For comparison purpose; three major categories were made within both groups. (1) ‘Mild Category ‘had oxygen saturation 91% to 93% on Room air, (2) ‘Moderate Category’ had oxygen saturation 71% to 90% on Room air and (3) ‘Severe Category’ had oxygen saturation less than 70 % on Room air. RESULTS: Total 236 patients were included in the study. Remdesivir group comprised of 118 patients and Control group comprised of 118 patients. In Remdesivir group 21 patients had Mild disease (19 discharged, 2 died), 48 patients had Moderate disease (46 discharged, 2 died). 49 patients had Severe disease (10 discharged, 39 died). In Control group 24 patients had Mild disease (20 discharged, 04 died), 48 patients had Moderate disease (46 discharged and 2 died). 46 patients had severe disease (15 discharged, 31 died). The mean hospital stay in Remdesivir group was 13 days and overall mortality rate was 36.44%, the mean hospital stay in Control group was 11 days and overall mortality was 31.35% (p-value.97, chi-square statistic 0.0013). CONCLUSION: Our data show that Remdesivir was not superior to standard of care treatment in shortening the overall time to recovery in adults with established Covid-19. No Mortality benefit was observed with Remdesivir treatment.