Remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19 disease: A retrospective comparative study of patients treated with and without Remdesivir

Background Remdesivir (RDV) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been found to be beneficial in patients with severe disease; however, its role in mild-moderate disease and its optimal timing need to be identified. Objective To assess the course of illness and final outcome in patients who received RDV at various stages of illness, and compare it to the non-RDV group. Methods This is a retrospective data analysis of 1262 COVID-19 patients hospitalized from May5, 2020 to August 31, 2020. The primary outcomes were progression to mechanical ventilation (MV) or death. Kaplan Meier survival analysis and log rank test were used for evaluating primary outcomes. Results 398 patients comprised the RDV group and 260 patients comprised the non-RDV group. 2/3 rd of patients were above 50 years of age in both the groups and 3/4 th patients were male. Mortality rate was 5.8% in RDV group (10.4% in non-RDV group). Mortality rate was 3.6%, 4% and 16.7% when RDV was started within 5 days, 5 to 10 days and after 10 days of symptom onset respectively. Fewer patients in RDV group progressed to MV (4.0% v/s 8.2%). Earlier discharge occurred in RDV group. Use of supplemental oxygen was observed in 44.7% patients in RDV group (54.2% in non-RDV group). No significant adverse events were observed with RDV. Survival analysis showed that probability of event (death) was significant for patients with hypertension (HT) and/or diabetes mellitus (DM) in RDV group. Conclusion Early initiation of RDV is associated with shorter hospital stay, lower mortality as well as reduced need for supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilation.