tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Infect Chemother
. 2022 Dec 12.
doi: 10.3947/ic.2022.0127. Online ahead of print.
An Open Label Randomized Controlled Trial of Ivermectin Plus Favipiravir-Based Standard of Care versus Favipiravir-Based Standard of Care for Treatment of Moderate COVID-19 in Thailand
Phahol Sarojvisut[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anucha Apisarnthanarak[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Kittiya Jantarathaneewat[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Ornnicha Sathitakorn[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Thanus Pienthong[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chatchai Mingmalairak[SUP] 5 [/SUP], David K Warren[SUP] 6 [/SUP], David J Weber[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: The role of ivermectin in the treatment of moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is controversial. We performed an open label randomized controlled trial to evaluate the role of ivermectin plus favipiravir-based standard of care versus favipiravir-based standard of care for the treatment of moderate COVID-19 infection.
Materials and methods: An open-label randomized control trial was performed at Thammasat Field Hospital and Thammasat University Hospital from October 1st, 2021 to May 31st, 2022. Patients with moderate COVID-19 infections were randomized to the intervention (ivermectin plus favipiravir-based standard of care) or control group (favipiravir-based standard of care alone). Patients were followed up to 21 days. The primary outcome was the improvement in World Health Organization (WHO) category ordinal scale by 2 points. Secondary outcomes included duration of illness, development of severe COVID-19, and adverse reactions.
Results: There were 157 patients in the intervention and 160 patients in the control group. Characteristics, underlying diseases, and risk factors for severe COVID-19 were comparable in both groups. Improvement in the WHO-category ordinal scale by 2 points was achieved in 98.7% of the intervention group and in 99.4% of the control group (relative risk [RR]: 0.487; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.044-5.430). The median illness duration was 5.0 days (range, 3 - 28 days) in intervention group versus 5.2 days (range, 3 - 28 days) in control group (P = 0.630). Severe COVID-19 that required intensive care occurred in 2 patients (1.3%) in the intervention group and 1 patient (0.6%) in the control group (RR: 2.052; 95% CI: 0.184 - 22.857). No significant difference in serious drug adverse events was seen.
Conclusion: In this study ivermectin plus standard of care was not associated with improvement in the WHO-category ordinal scale, reduced illness duration, or development of severe COVID-19 in moderately ill COVID-19 patients.
Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: TCTR20220427005.
Keywords: COVID-19; Favipiravir; Ivermectin; Thailand; Treatment.
. 2022 Dec 12.
doi: 10.3947/ic.2022.0127. Online ahead of print.
An Open Label Randomized Controlled Trial of Ivermectin Plus Favipiravir-Based Standard of Care versus Favipiravir-Based Standard of Care for Treatment of Moderate COVID-19 in Thailand
Phahol Sarojvisut[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Anucha Apisarnthanarak[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Kittiya Jantarathaneewat[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Ornnicha Sathitakorn[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Thanus Pienthong[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chatchai Mingmalairak[SUP] 5 [/SUP], David K Warren[SUP] 6 [/SUP], David J Weber[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 36603821
- DOI: 10.3947/ic.2022.0127
Abstract
Background: The role of ivermectin in the treatment of moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is controversial. We performed an open label randomized controlled trial to evaluate the role of ivermectin plus favipiravir-based standard of care versus favipiravir-based standard of care for the treatment of moderate COVID-19 infection.
Materials and methods: An open-label randomized control trial was performed at Thammasat Field Hospital and Thammasat University Hospital from October 1st, 2021 to May 31st, 2022. Patients with moderate COVID-19 infections were randomized to the intervention (ivermectin plus favipiravir-based standard of care) or control group (favipiravir-based standard of care alone). Patients were followed up to 21 days. The primary outcome was the improvement in World Health Organization (WHO) category ordinal scale by 2 points. Secondary outcomes included duration of illness, development of severe COVID-19, and adverse reactions.
Results: There were 157 patients in the intervention and 160 patients in the control group. Characteristics, underlying diseases, and risk factors for severe COVID-19 were comparable in both groups. Improvement in the WHO-category ordinal scale by 2 points was achieved in 98.7% of the intervention group and in 99.4% of the control group (relative risk [RR]: 0.487; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.044-5.430). The median illness duration was 5.0 days (range, 3 - 28 days) in intervention group versus 5.2 days (range, 3 - 28 days) in control group (P = 0.630). Severe COVID-19 that required intensive care occurred in 2 patients (1.3%) in the intervention group and 1 patient (0.6%) in the control group (RR: 2.052; 95% CI: 0.184 - 22.857). No significant difference in serious drug adverse events was seen.
Conclusion: In this study ivermectin plus standard of care was not associated with improvement in the WHO-category ordinal scale, reduced illness duration, or development of severe COVID-19 in moderately ill COVID-19 patients.
Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: TCTR20220427005.
Keywords: COVID-19; Favipiravir; Ivermectin; Thailand; Treatment.