REAL WORD EFFECTIVENESS OF REMDESIVIR IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HOSPITALIZED COVID-19 PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY
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Keywords
Covid-19, Remdesivir, retrospective cohort study, Hospital Length of Stay, ventilator support, mortality, SARS-CoV-2, antiviral therapy
Abstract
Background: Covid-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has led to severe cases requiring prolonged hospital stays and intensive care, particularly for patients with moderate to severe disease. Remdesivir, an antiviral agent, has shown potential in improving outcomes for hospitalized Covid-19 patients, but results have varied.
AIM: This study evaluates the efficacy of Remdesivir in reducing hospital length of stay, need for ventilatory support, and mortality rates compared to standard care in age- and gender-matched patients.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Sukh Sagar Medical College, Jabalpur, from October 2020 to December 2021. The study included 2200 PCR-confirmed Covid-19 patients, divided equally into Remdesivir (n = 1100) and Standard Care groups (n = 1100). Participants were matched by age and gender. Data on clinical characteristics and outcomes, including length of hospital stay, need for ventilator support, and discharge status, were collected from hospital records.
Results: Patients in the Remdesivir group had a significantly shorter hospital stay (mean 9.8 days vs. 14.5 days; p < 0.001) and a reduced need for ventilator support (8.6% vs. 14.5%; p < 0.01) compared to the Standard Care group. The discharge rate was higher in the Remdesivir group (93.2% vs. 89.1%; p = 0.001), with a lower mortality rate (6.8% vs. 10.9%). The Relative Risk (RR) for ventilator need was 0.58, with a Number Needed to Treat (NNT) of 17, and for mortality, the RR was 0.63 with an NNT of 24.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that Remdesivir treatment in hospitalized Covid-19 patients with moderate to severe disease may reduce hospital stay, ventilator requirements, and mortality rates, thus supporting its efficacy as part of inpatient Covid-19 management strategies. Further studies are recommended to corroborate these outcomes across diverse populations.
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Dr Nipun Agrawal
Assistant Professor Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Sukh Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Jabalpur
Dr Rishi Kant Aharwal
Assistant Professor Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Sukh Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Jabalpur
Dr Vishal Asrani
Assistant Professor, Dept of Medicine, Sukh Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Jabalpur
Dr Kavneet Anand
Associate Professor, Dept of Dentistry, Sukh Sagar Medical College and Hospital, Jabalpur