Does ivermectin reduce COVID-19 mortality and progression of disease severity? – A retrospective study.

Authors

  • Tehseen Akhtar Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.
  • Amber Hanif Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.
  • Pyar Ali Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.
  • Muhammad Hussain Haroon Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.
  • Nimra Akram Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.
  • Muhammad Umar Raza Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.
  • Khalid Imran
  • Nimra Shakeel Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.
  • Ramsha Shakeel Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2022.29.09.6634

Keywords:

Ivermectin, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Mortality

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of ivermectin in the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19 infection. Study Design: Retrospective Cohort study. Setting: COVID-19 Treatment Centre, Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi. Period: July 2020 to December 2020. Material & Methods: Medical records of 423 patients during a selected duration of 6 months were reviewed. Patients were stratified into two groups based on whether or not they received a 6-day course of ivermectin in addition to the standard treatment for COVID-19. Primary outcome measures were rate of mortality, days from the start of treatment to negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR, and rate of step-up to the intensive care unit. Results: Patients who received ivermectin required a lesser number of days (8.39 days ± 2.04) to become COVID negative than the patients who didn't receive ivermectin (20.38 days ± 6.32), (p < 0.001). Multinomial logistic regression showed that the patients who were given ivermectin for COVID 19 infection were four times more likely to be discharged home than stepping up to ICU. The ICU step-up rate in the ivermectin group was found to be 3.7% compared to 13.04% in the non-ivermectin group. No significant differences in mortality were found. Conclusion: Treatment with ivermectin in COVID-19 infection is associated with improved outcomes in terms of reduction in duration of illness as well as the progression of disease severity.

Author Biographies

Tehseen Akhtar, Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.

MBBS, FCPS (Medicine), Professor Medicine, 

Amber Hanif, Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.

MBBS, Resident Medical Officer, 

Pyar Ali, Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.

MBBS, FCPS (Medicine), Professor Medicine, 

Muhammad Hussain Haroon, Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.

MBBS, FCPS (Medicine), Professor Medicine, 

Nimra Akram, Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.

MBBS, House Officer, 

Muhammad Umar Raza, Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.

MBBS, House Officer, 

Khalid Imran

MBBS, FCPS (Medicine), Professor Medicine, Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.

Nimra Shakeel, Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.

MBBS, House Officer, 

Ramsha Shakeel, Dr. Ruth K M Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi.

Medical Student, 

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Published

2022-09-01