Efficacy and safety of etiotropic antiviral therapy in COVID‑19 in outpatient patients

Abstract

The article presents the results of an observational study to evaluate the effectiveness of COVID‑19 therapy.
The aim of the study. To evaluate the effectiveness of etiotropic therapy in outpatient patients with COVID‑19.
Materials and methods. The study included 244 patients with COVID‑19. According to etiotropic starting therapy from the first week of the disease, patients were divided into 3 groups: those who received favipiravir, umifenovir and those who did not receive antiviral agents.
Results. The median time and interquartile interval before virus elimination while taking favipiravir was 3 (3.0; 5.0) days, among those taking umifenovir – 5 (3.0; 7.0) days, without antiviral therapy – 8 (7.0; 10.0) days. More often, by day 7 and 14, normalization of body temperature occurred with favipiravir therapy. Among the patients who did not receive antiviral therapy in the first 10 days of the disease, in most (82 %) cases, a deterioration in the condition was registered with hospitalization and correction of the therapy regimen.
Conclusions. Taking favipiravir or umifenovir promotes earlier elimination of the virus, faster normalization of body temperature and a favorable outcome of the disease in outpatient patients. Favipiravir leads somewhat faster to the elimination of the virus, a somewhat more frequent improvement in the condition with normalization of body temperature on the 7th day from the start of therapy. However, when using umifenovir, there is less frequency of side effects.