COVID-19 patients benefit from remdesivir

Objectives:
Do COVID-19 patients benefit from the treatment with remdesivir?

Study design:
This review article included 3 RCTs with a total of 1,691 COVID-19 patients.

Results and conclusions:   
The investigators found the odds for mechanical ventilation (MV) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) following treatment was significantly lower in the remdesivir group compared to the control group [OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.34 to 0.69, p 0.001].
Significantly means that there is an association with a 95% confidence.

The investigators found the odds of early [at day 14/15: OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.16 to 1.74, p 0.001] and late [at day 28/29: OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.16 to 1.79] p = 0.001] hospital discharge were significantly higher in the remdesivir group compared to the control group.
Significantly because OR of 1 was not found in the 95% CI of 1.16 to 1.79. OR of 1 means no risk/association.

The investigators found there was no significant difference in the odds for mortality in patients treated with remdesivir [OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.56 to 1.06, p = 0.108].
No significant because OR of 1 was found in the 95% CI of 0.56 to 1.06. OR of 1 means no risk/association.

The investigators concluded remdesivir attenuates disease progression, leading to lower odds of MV/ECMO and greater odds of hospital discharge for COVID-19 patients. However, remdesivir does not affect odds of mortality.

Original title:
Remdesivir therapy in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by Vegivinti CTR, Pederson JM, […], Evanson KW.

Link:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33489115/

Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on coronavirus right here.