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Interferon-α2b spray inhalation did not shorten virus shedding time of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalized patients: a preliminary matched case-control study

Authors :
Chan yuan Ye
Huan Cai
Guo dong Yu
Shao rui Hao
Jianhua Hu
Shan yan Zhang
Ren Yan
Jiang shan Lian
Lin Zheng
Jiao jiao Xin
Ji Fang Sheng
Ci liang Jin
Yi da Yang
Jue qing Gu
Xiaoli Zhang
Hongyu Jia
Ying feng Lu
Source :
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B
Publication Year :
2020
Publisher :
Zhejiang University Press, 2020.

Abstract

Background Currently, there are no drugs that have been proven to be effective against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Because of its broad antiviral activity, interferon (IFN) should be evaluated as a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially while COVID-19-specific therapies are still under development. Methods Confirmed COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, from January 19 to February 19, 2020 were enrolled in a retrospective study. The patients were separated into an IFN group and a control group according to whether they received initial IFN-α2b inhalation treatment after admission. Propensity-score matching was used to balance the confounding factors. Results A total of 104 confirmed COVID-19 patients, 68 in the IFN group and 36 in the control group, were enrolled. Less hypertension (27.9% vs. 55.6%, P=0.006), dyspnea (8.8% vs. 25.0%, P=0.025), or diarrhea (4.4% vs. 19.4%, P=0.030) was observed in the IFN group. Lower levels of albumin and C-reactive protein and higher level of sodium were observed in the IFN group. Glucocorticoid dosage was lower in the IFN group (median, 40 vs. 80 mg/d, P=0.025). Compared to the control group, fewer patients in the IFN group were ventilated (13.2% vs. 33.3%, P=0.015) and admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) (16.2% vs. 44.4%, P=0.002). There were also fewer critical patients in the IFN group (7.4% vs. 25.0%, P=0.017) upon admission. Although complications during admission process were comparable between groups, the discharge rate (85.3% vs. 66.7%, P=0.027) was higher and the hospitalization time (16 vs. 21 d, P=0.015) was shorter in the IFN group. When other confounding factors were not considered, virus shedding time (10 vs. 13 d, P=0.014) was also shorter in the IFN group. However, when the influence of other factors was eliminated using propensity score matching, virus shedding time was not significantly shorter than that of the control group (12 vs. 15 d, P=0.206). Conclusions IFN-α2b spray inhalation did not shorten virus shedding time of SARS-CoV-2 in hospitalized patients.

Details

ISSN :
18621783 and 16731581
Volume :
21
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....2a23c983e9777717910930fe40794af2