Tocilizumab Treatment Reduces Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Aims This study aimed to investigate the potential of tocilizumab therapy in minimizing mortality and mechanical ventilation (MV) requirements among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.Methods A single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study of 375 patients with severe COVID-19 (March 1 and April 22, 2020) included 150 patients treated with Tocilizumab and 225 consecutive control patients adjusted for age and gender. Both groups received concomitant standard of care treatments in addition to Tocilizumab. The statistical methods relied on survival analyses, conditional logistic regression models, and contingency analyses. The primary outcomes included in-hospital mortality and the MV requirement.Results Tocilizumab associated with improved in-hospital mortality (34.7% vs 46.7%, P = 0.0136) and lower requirement for MV on days 1, 3, and 5 after treatment (P = 0.005, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.0021, respectively). Lower mortality was observed if tocilizumab was administered within 48 hours after admission (P = 0.0226). Older age and low blood oxygen saturation on admission decreased the odds of survival (P < 0.005).Conclusion Our study demonstrates a significant reduction in mortality and decreased requirement of MV with tocilizumab treatment in addition to the standard of care. Early administration of Tocilizumab within 48 hours reduces the risk of mortality.

Assessment of The Effect of Tocilizumab in Adult Hospitalized COVID-19 Pneumonia Patients: A Clinical Trial

“…Cough and fever were globally regarded as main symptoms in previous studies. 5,17 In consideration of symptom factors; cough was the main symptom of severe COVID-19 (6,10,11). In this study, majority risk factor were DM (47.7%) followed by HTN (30.5%).…”

“…18 Another study in the United States observed that 58% of severely ill patients admitted in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) were with Diabetes mellitus, which exhibited an association between severe COVID-19 and diabetes mellitus. 16,17 Mortality from COVID-19 was apparently high among the patients with hypertension published in a Chinese study . 3 In this study, mortality was more in control group than tocilizumab group which was 83.3% and 44.4% respectively.…”

“…5 In Saliaj et al study the average age was 62.5 years. 17 In COVID 19 disease older age group were the main contributors in most countries. 18 In current study it is found that the commonest of symptoms were fever (44.4%) then cough (38.9%), and others (33.3%).…”