Oseltamivir Plus Hydroxychloroquine versus Lopinavir/Ritonavir in
COVID-19 Treatment Efficacys: A Comparative Study
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the clinical
efficacy of lopinavir/ritonavir with oseltamivir plus hydroxychloroquine
for the treatment of Covid-19, in order to find a better treatment for
Covid-19 patients. Methods: In this single-center, mixed designed cohort
study, 198 patients admitted for Covid-19, to Ziaeian Hospital, Tehran,
Iran were included. According to the date of admission, the patients
were received different treatments and divided into two groups. Group 1
received oseltamivir with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin whereas
group 2 received lopinavir/ritonavir with azithromycin. Patients’
outcomes were measured based on duration of hospitalization, a
requirement to intensive care unit (ICU) admission, need for intubation
and mortality. Results: Patients in group 1 had greater clinical
improvement and shorter duration of hospitalization. Although small in
number, mortality, ICU admission, and intubation was also less in this
group, but due to the small number of events in incidence of ICU
admission, intubation, and mortality, it could not be analyzed and was
not possible to investigate the relationship between the type of
treatment and these variables. In group 1, one patient was admitted to
ICU, while 12 patients were admitted to ICU in group2. None of the
patients in group 1 required intubation whereas 4 in group 2 received
intubation. One patient in group 1 and 9 patients in group 2 died.
Conclusion: This study showed that administration of Oseltamivir plus
hydroxychloroquine is likely to be associated with earlier clinical
improvement and shorter duration of hospitalization however, further
studies are required.