Effects of Famotidine on COVID-19 Patients in Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Clinical Trial

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Because developing a new drug is a lengthy process, the drugs used safely were tried to be repurposed for COVID-19 treatment. In this retrospective study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of famotidine on the mortality, need for invasive mechanical ventilation, and the severity of the disease in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU) by regarding laboratory results. METHODS: Data of patients treated in the ICU due to COVID-19 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients using famotidine were named Group F (n=30), and the patients not using it were named Group C (n=29). Invasive mechanical ventilation needs, 30-day mortality, intubation time, lymphocyte, ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, fibrinogen, and procalcitonin values were compared between groups. Mann–Whitney U-test and repeated measures ANOVA tests were used as statistical methods. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of the need for invasive mechanical ventilation, 30-day mortality, length of stay in the ICU, and intubation time. In the laboratory, lymphocyte count, ferritin and D-dimer values were similar between the groups, while CRP was higher in Group F until the 14th day. Fibrinogen and procalcitonin values were lower in Group F. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Famotidine treatment did not have a positive effect on the need for invasive mechanical ventilation and 30-day mortality in COVID-19 patients followed in the ICU. However, we think that it may have positive effects on coagulation, against the inflammation process and secondary infections.

Keywords

• covid-19
• famotidine
• intensive care unit
• severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.