A comprehensive strategy for the early treatment of COVID-19 with azithromycin/hydroxychloroquine and/or corticosteroids: Results of a retrospective observational study in the French overseas department of Réunion Island

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the prognosis of COVID-19 patients in Reunion Island, with a particular focus on the management of patients with hypoxemic pneumonia. Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted from 11 March to 17 April 2020 at the only hospital authorized to manage patients with COVID-19 in Reunion Island. Results: Over the study period, 164 out of 398 patients (41.2%) infected with COVID-19 were admitted to Félix Guyon University Hospital. Of these, 36 (22%) developed hypoxemic pneumonia. Patients with hypoxemic pneumonia were aged 66 [56–77] years, 69% were male and 33% had hypertension. Ten patients (27.8%) were hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU). Hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin treatment was associated with a lower ICU admission rate (P = 0.008). None of the 6 patients treated with corticosteroids were hospitalized in ICU (P = 0.16). There were no deaths at follow up (minimum 80 days). Conclusions: Despite the risk profile of COVID-19 patients with severe hypoxemic pneumonia, the mortality rate of the disease in Reunion Island was 0%. This may be due to the care bundle used in our hospital (early hospitalisation, treatment with hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin and/or corticosteroids, non-invasive respiratory support, etc).

• Tipo de recurso: Article of investigation
• Fecha de publicación: 2020
• Institución: Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano
• Repositorio: Expeditio: repositorio UTadeo
• Idioma: eng
• OAI Identifier: oai:expeditiorepositorio.utadeo.edu.co:20.500.12010/14117
• Acceso en línea: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jgar.2020.08.001; http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12010/14117
• Palabra clave: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Hydroxychloroquine; Azithromycin; Corticosteroids; Síndrome respiratorio agudo grave; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Coronavirus
• License: Abierto (Texto Completo)