J Med Virol. 2021 Jun 2. doi: 10.1002/jmv.27122. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Researchers around the world are working at record speed to find the best ways to treat and prevent COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin for the treatment of hospitalized mild to moderate COVID-19 infected patients.
METHODS: This was a randomized open-label controlled study which included 164 COVID-19 patients. Patients were randomized into two groups where group1 (Ivermectin group) included patients who received ivermectin12mg once daily for 3 days with standard care and group 2 (control group) included patients who received standard protocol of treatment alone for 14 days. The main outcomes were mortality, the length of hospital stay and the need for mechanical ventilation. All patients were followed up for one month.
RESULTS: Overall, 82 individuals were randomised to receive ivermectin plus standard of care and 82 to receive standard of care alone. Patients in the ivermectin group had shorter length of hospital stay (8.82± 4.94 days) than the control group (10.97 ± 5.28 days), but this was not statistically significant (P= 0.085). Three patients (3.7%) in each group required mechanical ventilation (P= 1.00). The death rate was three patients in the ivermectin group (3.7%) versus four patients (4.9%) in the control group without any significant difference between the two groups (P= 1.00).
CONCLUSION: Whereas there was no statistically significant difference in any endpoints by ivermectin doses (12 mg/day for 3 days); there was an observed trend to reducing hospital stay in the ivermectin treated group. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
PMID:34076901 | DOI:10.1002/jmv.27122