New Therapeutic Options in Mild Moderate COVID-19 Outpatients
Background: In recent years, the therapeutic options for COVID have significantly improved; however, the therapies are expensive with restricted access to drugs, and expeditious and difficult to manage at home. We investigated the effect of pidotimod in preventing hospitalization in patients with mi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/11/2131 |
| _version_ | 1797467154673565696 |
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| author | Claudio Ucciferri Alessandro Di Gasbarro Paola Borrelli Marta Di Nicola Jacopo Vecchiet Katia Falasca |
| author_facet | Claudio Ucciferri Alessandro Di Gasbarro Paola Borrelli Marta Di Nicola Jacopo Vecchiet Katia Falasca |
| author_sort | Claudio Ucciferri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In recent years, the therapeutic options for COVID have significantly improved; however, the therapies are expensive with restricted access to drugs, and expeditious and difficult to manage at home. We investigated the effect of pidotimod in preventing hospitalization in patients with mild-moderate COVID-19. Methods: A total of 1231 patients between January and June 2021 were screened. A total of 184 patients with mild-moderate COVID-19 were enrolled and divided into two groups: group-A (97) had undergone therapy with pidotimod 800 mg bid for 7–10 days and group-B (87) had other therapies. We excluded those who had undergone complete vaccination course, monoclonal anti-spike/antivirals or the co-administration of pidotimod-steroid. The primary outcome chosen was the emergency room, hospitalization, and deaths for COVID-related causes; the secondary outcome chosen was the duration of COVID-19 illness. Results: A total of 34 patients (18.5%) required hospital treatment, 11 in group-A and 23 in group-B (11.3% vs. 26.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.008). The median disease duration in group-A was 21 days (IQR 17–27) vs. 23 (IQR 20–31) in group-B (<i>p</i> = 0.005). Patients in the pidotimod group had higher SpO2 in the walking test (IQR 96–99% vs. IQR 93–98%, <i>p</i> = 0.01) and a lower need for steroid rescue therapy (11.5% vs. 60.9%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusions: In the first phase of disease, pidotimod can represent an effective, low-cost, weapon, without restrictions of use, that is able to prevent a second aggressive phase and promote faster virological recovery. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:49:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-17d9568bcd6c452ca555f696c4c4a2ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:49:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-17d9568bcd6c452ca555f696c4c4a2ca2023-11-24T05:56:17ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072022-10-011011213110.3390/microorganisms10112131New Therapeutic Options in Mild Moderate COVID-19 OutpatientsClaudio Ucciferri0Alessandro Di Gasbarro1Paola Borrelli2Marta Di Nicola3Jacopo Vecchiet4Katia Falasca5Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyLaboratory of Biostatistics, Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyLaboratory of Biostatistics, Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyClinic of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyBackground: In recent years, the therapeutic options for COVID have significantly improved; however, the therapies are expensive with restricted access to drugs, and expeditious and difficult to manage at home. We investigated the effect of pidotimod in preventing hospitalization in patients with mild-moderate COVID-19. Methods: A total of 1231 patients between January and June 2021 were screened. A total of 184 patients with mild-moderate COVID-19 were enrolled and divided into two groups: group-A (97) had undergone therapy with pidotimod 800 mg bid for 7–10 days and group-B (87) had other therapies. We excluded those who had undergone complete vaccination course, monoclonal anti-spike/antivirals or the co-administration of pidotimod-steroid. The primary outcome chosen was the emergency room, hospitalization, and deaths for COVID-related causes; the secondary outcome chosen was the duration of COVID-19 illness. Results: A total of 34 patients (18.5%) required hospital treatment, 11 in group-A and 23 in group-B (11.3% vs. 26.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.008). The median disease duration in group-A was 21 days (IQR 17–27) vs. 23 (IQR 20–31) in group-B (<i>p</i> = 0.005). Patients in the pidotimod group had higher SpO2 in the walking test (IQR 96–99% vs. IQR 93–98%, <i>p</i> = 0.01) and a lower need for steroid rescue therapy (11.5% vs. 60.9%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusions: In the first phase of disease, pidotimod can represent an effective, low-cost, weapon, without restrictions of use, that is able to prevent a second aggressive phase and promote faster virological recovery.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/11/2131pidotimodimmunomodulationSARS-CoV2therapysafetyefficacy |
| spellingShingle | Claudio Ucciferri Alessandro Di Gasbarro Paola Borrelli Marta Di Nicola Jacopo Vecchiet Katia Falasca New Therapeutic Options in Mild Moderate COVID-19 Outpatients Microorganisms pidotimod immunomodulation SARS-CoV2 therapy safety efficacy |
| title | New Therapeutic Options in Mild Moderate COVID-19 Outpatients |
| title_full | New Therapeutic Options in Mild Moderate COVID-19 Outpatients |
| title_fullStr | New Therapeutic Options in Mild Moderate COVID-19 Outpatients |
| title_full_unstemmed | New Therapeutic Options in Mild Moderate COVID-19 Outpatients |
| title_short | New Therapeutic Options in Mild Moderate COVID-19 Outpatients |
| title_sort | new therapeutic options in mild moderate covid 19 outpatients |
| topic | pidotimod immunomodulation SARS-CoV2 therapy safety efficacy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/11/2131 |
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