Clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients treated with remdesivir in Saudi Arabia: A 1-year retrospective study

Abstract

Background: The recent pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in increased deaths globally, and effective treatment is crucial as a form of disease management. Aims: This study was aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients who have been administered with remdesivir (RDV) at King Faisal Specialized Hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Hospitalized COVID-19 adult patients who received RDV therapy (from January to December 2021) were included in this retrospective case series. Patients' demographics, medical history, presenting symptoms, and laboratory results were collected. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences and data were presented based on their statistical variables. Results: A total of 210 patients (56.1% females, 43.9% males) with a mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 57.43 ± 18.4 years were included in our analysis. Pneumonia was manifested in 52.4% of patients. The most common associated comorbidities were hypertension (54.76%) and diabetes (44.76%). From 180 participants that were vaccinated, 73 and 90 patients received two or three COVID-19 vaccine doses, respectively. The most frequent presenting symptoms were fever (80.1%) and cough (62.6%). About 48.1% and 10.48% of the cohort received RDV with dexamethasone or tocilizumab, respectively. Overall, 45.71% of the patients needed oxygen therapy during hospitalization, and 21 patients with pneumonia required mechanical ventilation for a mean ± SD of 15.15 ± 16.46 days with the mean ± SD length of the hospital stay which was 14.9 ± 46.29 days. Moreover, 41 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit for a mean ± SD stay of 10.5 ± 11.05 days, and 26 patients had died. Conclusion: Despite previous vaccination, a significant portion of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in our cohort required oxygen therapy and experienced longer periods of hospital stay, highlighting the seriousness of COVID-19 infection for some patients regardless of vaccination status. Relevance for patients: This study highlights RDV's role in reducing oxygen need and hospitalization duration, aiding better outcomes for COVID-19 patients.

Keywords

Coronavirus disease-2019 / Remdesivir / Saudi Arabia / Vaccination / Intensive care unit