Evaluation of the effect of favipiravir on patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) started in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. No specific drug has been accepted for COVID-19 treatment up to now. Favipiravir as an antiviral drug affects RNA viruses like influenza and Ebola. Accordingly, the aim of this study is the evaluation of favipiravir's effect on COVID-19 outcomes.

METHOD

This is a randomized controlled study including 97 patients with COVID-19 randomly allocated into favipiravir or control groups. The primary outcomes were improvement of clinical manifestations and atrial oxygen saturation (SpO2), and the secondary outcome was the length of hospitalization.

RESULTS

Clinical manifestations recovery of COVID-19 patients was better in the favipiravir group, and the mortality rates were less than in the control group ( = 0.0001 for both). The level of blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) was significantly higher in the favipiravir group ( = 0.0001). The mean lymphocyte count was lower in the control group ( = 0.004). In addition, levels of blood urine nitrogen (BUN) were higher in the favipiravir group ( = 0.033). The length of hospitalization was similar in both groups ( = 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.