Life (Mar 2023)

Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients with Pneumonia Treated with High-Flow Oxygen Therapy and Baricitinib—Retrospective Single-Center Study

  • Dušanka Obradović,
  • Milica Popović,
  • Maja Banjac,
  • Jelena Bulajić,
  • Vladimir Đurović,
  • Ivana Urošević,
  • Aleksandra Milovančev

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030755
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 3
p. 755

Abstract

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Background. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of baricitinib on 28-day all-cause mortality and the progression of respiratory failure in patients needing transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with high-flow oxygen therapy. Methods. This retrospective study included hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with high-flow oxygen non-invasive ventilation receiving standard of care (SOC) or SOC in addition to baricitinib. Data on patients’ characteristics, pro-inflammatory markers, D dimer, and National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) values were collected and compared between groups. The primary endpoint was 28-day all-cause in-hospital mortality and the secondary outcome was transfer to the ICU. Results. The study included 125 patients. The primary outcome was observed in 44.8% of them: 27% in the baricitinib group vs. 62% in the SOC group, p p < 0.001. A significant improvement was observed when the baricitinib group was compared to SOC in procalcitonin, CRP, D-dimer, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio values, and NEWS2. Conclusion. Treatment with baricitinib in addition to SOC was associated with reduced mortality and a lower prevalence of transfer to the ICU in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with high-flow oxygen non-invasive therapy.

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