Therapeutic Efficacy of Ivermectin in Novel Coronavirus Disease-2019 Patient Admitted at the Ward of a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: An observational, retrospective, institution-based study to observe the pattern of ivermectin use related to patients’ characteristics. Methods: Patient data including short-term diagnosis, investigations done, and drug usage data were captured in a predesigned, structured case report form; and suspected adverse events were recorded in the standard suspected adverse drug reaction reporting form recommended by the “Central Drug Standard Control Organization,” India. The study was for a period of 7 months from August 01, 2020, to February 28, 2021. A total of 4,552 patients were recruited in this study and followed up till their discharge or death. The comparison was made between not given and given of ivermectin among patients. Results: Data were summarized by routine descriptive and statistical analysis. The mean age (years), length of stay (days) onset from hospitalization, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and temperature did not show significant change. However, respiratory rate was found to decrease significantly (p < 0.001), and oxygen saturation (SpO2) was found to increase significantly (p < 0.001) in the ivermectin-treated group. It was also observed that a positive correlation with a highly significant value (p < 0.000) between age (years), length of stay (days) onset from, pulse rate, SBP, and temperature and ivermectin usage while a negative correlation with highly significant value (p < 0.000) between SpO2 and ivermectin usage was obtained. Conclusion: As per the studied parameters, a significant correlation was observed in combinations of the treated and untreated groups. Further research suggested the dose-dependent efficacy of ivermectin usage in the novel coronavirus disease-2019 patients.

Keywords

• infectious disease
• ivermectin therapy
• novel coronavirus disease-2019
• severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2