Comparative study between the therapeutic effect of remdesivir versus hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 hospitalized patients

Abstract

Background: Up till now, no evidence based studies have recommended specific therapeutic modality to treat corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19). Many regimens were tested since the outbreak has started. Among commonly tested drugs are hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial agent, which was proposed based on its anti-inflammatory as well as antiviral effects and remdesivir, an antiviral that showed invivo and invitro activity against the formerly known corona-viruses The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved using remdesivir in the treatment of severe cases of COVID-19.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of remdesivir versus hydroxychloroquine against SARS-CoV-2 in terms of infectivity period in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Fifty patients that were clinically diagnosed with Covid-19 admitted to Tanta University Isolation Hospital from June - September, 2020 were included in this study and divided into 2 groups. Group I had hydroxychloroquine as the main therapeutic agent in their treatment regimen, while group II had the antiviral remdesivir instead. Laboratory testing involved nasopharyngeal swabbing which was transported immediately to Tanta University Hospital laboratory for Real-time PCR.

Results: There was a significant better outcome and shorter infectivity period in group 2 who received the antiviral remdesivir.

Conclusions: Remdesivir showed significant better outcome in COVID-19 hospitalized patients, as it reduced period needed for clinical improvement while administration of hydroxychloroquine was not associated with better outcome or increased risk to the patients.