Ribavirin Treatment for Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: An Observational Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline Demographics of the Study Population

Demographic and Comorbidities	All Patients (n = 19)
Age (yr)	56 (46–68)
Body mass index (kg/m^2)	24.05 (22.06–27.14)
Sex
Female, n (%)	5 (26.32)
Male, n (%)	14 (73.68)
Comorbidities
Hypertension, n (%)	8 (42.11)
Diabetes, n (%)	7 (36.84)
Coronary artery disease, n (%)	4 (21.06)
Cerebrovascular disease, n (%)	0 (0.00)
Chronic pulmonary disease, n (%)	2 (10.53)
Tuberculosis, n (%)	0 (0.00)
Chronic kidney disease, n (%)	0 (0.00)
Chronic liver disease, n (%)	2 (10.53)
Onset symptoms and signs
Fever, n (%)	17 (89.47)
Cough, n (%)	13 (68.42)
Sputum, n (%)	6 (31.58)
Shortness of breath, n (%)	9 (47.37)
Chest tightness, n (%)	3 (15.79)
Myalgia, n (%)	4 (21.05)
Malaise, n (%)	13 (68.42)
Diarrhoea, n (%)	0 (0.00)
Duration from onset of symptoms to  ICU admission (days)	11 (9–13.5)
SOFA Score on Day 1	7 (3–11)
APACHEII Score on Day 1	17 (9–22)
Ratio of PaO2 to FiO2, on Day 1	170 (103.5–216)
Laboratory tests
White blood cell count, × 10^9 per L	9.2 (6.5–12.4)
<4	1 (5.26%)
4–10	11 (57.90%)
>10	7 (36.84%)
Lymphocyte count, × 10^9 per L	0.4 (0.2–0.5)
<1.0	19 (100%)
≥1.0	0 (0%)
Haemoglobin, g/L	121 (112–134)
Platelet count, × 10^9 per L	143 (117–210)
<100	2 (10.53%)
≥100	17 (89.47%)
Prothrombin time, s	14.8 (13.6–16.3)
Activated partial thromboplastin time, s	41.4 (35.8–47)
D-dimer, mg/L	1.30 (0.50–4.67)
Serum creatinine, μmol/L	73.1 (60.9–89.7)
≤133	3 (15.79%)
>133	16 (84.21%)
Aspartate aminotransferase, U/L	34.3 (22.1–53.3)
≤40	12 (63.16%)
>40	7 (36.84%)
Alanine aminotransferase, U/L	25.5 (20.1–34.1)
≤50	16 (84.21%)
>50	3 (15.79%)
Total bilirubin, mmol/L	12.7 (6.9–17)
Lactate dehydrogenase, U/L	405.4 (354.6–529.5)
≤245	0 (0%)
>245	19 (100%)
Medications during study period — no. (%)
Vasopressors	13 (68.42)
Antibiotic agent	19 (100)
Glucocorticoid therapy	5 (26.32)
Outcomes
Mortality on day 28	0 (0%)
ICU discharge within 28 days	6 (31.58%)

Note: All data were presented as the median (interquartile range) otherwise stated.

Figure 1 Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 virus load and indices for hemolytic anemia during ribavirin treatment. The dynamic change of SARS-CoV-2 virus PCR’s Ct values of 19 patients from sputum/ETA. HGB (hemoglobin), and IBil (indirect bilirubin) for Ribavirin-related hemolytic anemia were shown in four different time points (day 1, day 7, day 14 and day 21 from ICU admission/starting Ribavirin treatment). *p<0.05 **p<0.01 ***p< 0.001.