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Evaluation of the effect of favipiravir in patients with COVID-19

Behnam Mahmudie, Alireza Kamali, Hossein Sarmadian, Shamim Valibak, Farzane Farmani, Zahra Bashirgonbadi

Background: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) started in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. A specific drug has been accepted for COVID-19 treatment. Favipiravir as an anti-viral drug affects RNA viruses like influenza and Ebola. Accordingly, the aim of this study is the evaluation of favipiravir effect on COVID-19 outcomes. Method: This is a randomized controlled study including 97 patients with COVID-19 randomly allocated into favipiravir or control group. Primary outcomes were improvement clinical manifestations atrial oxygen saturation (SpO ), and the secondary outcome was the length of hospitalization. Results: Clinical manifestations recovery of COVID-19 patients was better in favipiravir group and mortality rates were less than the control group (p=0.0001 of both). The level of blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) was significantly higher in faviiravir group (p=0.0001). Mean lymphocyte count was lower in the control group (p=0.004). In addition levels of Blood Urine Nitrgen (BUN) were higher in favpravir group (P=0.033). Length of hospitalization was similar in both groups (p=0.586). Conclusion: Favipiravir can be effective for clinical and laboratory improvement of COVID-19 patients and it is a promising drug for decreasing of mortality rate in these patients