TREATMENT OUTCOMES OF ANTIVIRAL, ANTIBIOTIC AND STEROID DRUGS IN COVID-19 PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY HEALTHCARE CENTER PESHAWAR

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the treatment outcomes of antivirals, antibiotics and steroids drugs in COVID-19 patients, and to assess patterns of drug utilization in relation to comorbidities, co-infections, mortality, and length of hospital stay (LOS).

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out at a tertiary healthcare center in Peshawar from 2021 to 2022. Medical records of 194 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit were reviewed. SPSS version 26 was used to analyse data on demographics, drug use, co-infections, LOS, and clinical outcomes. The chi-square test was used to evaluate associations, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Among the 194 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 53.09% of patients received antivirals, mostly remdesivir (43.80%). Despite lower mortality among treated individuals, antiviral did not significantly correlate with mortality (p=0.360). A significant association was found between antiviral use and LOS (p=0.001). Antibiotics were prescribed to 89.70% despite a low coinfection rate of 9.80%. Co-infection and antibiotic use did not significantly correlate (p=0.156). The most often utilized antibiotics were cephalosporins (44.80%). 96.40% of patients received steroid which was significantly associated with mortality (p=0.005). The death rate was 4.60% while the total recovery rate was 95.40%.

Conclusion: Antiviral was associated with shorter hospital stays. Although there was no significant correlation between antiviral and mortality, a tendency towards lower mortality indicates the need for additional research. Antibiotic use was notably high despite a low prevalence of bacterial co-infections. Steroid therapy was associated with lower mortality. Enhancing antimicrobial stewardship is crucial for improving treatment plans.