nImpact of medical care including anti-infective agents use on the prognosis of COVID-19 hospitalized patients over time

Highlights • COVID-19 pneumonia is at risk of transfer in intensive care unit or death • Hydroxychloroquine+azithromycin seems to improve outcome of admitted patients • We report no major cardiac adverse event of this combination therapy
Introduction Interest of anti-infective agents in COVD-19 showed discrepant results. However, there is no evaluation about the impact in changes of practices on the prognosis over time. Methods Single center, retrospective study, conducted from March 5th to April 25th 2020, in adults hospitalized in a medicine ward for a COVID-19. Patient characteristics were compared between 2 periods (before/after March 19th) considering French guidelines issued by learned societies. Aim of the study was to evaluate how medical care impacted unfavorable outcome, namely admission in intensive care unit (ICU) and/or death. Results One hundred thirty-two patients were admitted, mean age was 59.0 ± 16.3 years, mean CRP level was 84.0±71.1 mg/L, 46% had a lymphocyte count