Remdesivir for the Treatment of Severe COVID-19: A Community Hospital's Experience
Authors: Lee Stephen , Santarelli Anthony , Caine Kristen , Schritter Sarah , Dietrich Tyson , Ashurst John 
Published: November 2020

Context

Following the emergence of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), researchers sought safe and effective treatment modalities. Remdesivir is currently being evaluated for clinical efficacy and safety in patients with COVID-19.

Objective

To describe the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients following treatment with remdesivir at a community hospital.

Methods

A retrospective review of medical records was conducted in August 2020 for all patients given remdesivir while hospitalized for severe COVID-19 between May 1 and August 19, 2020. A convenience sample of consecutive patients with treatment including remdesivir, antibiotics, convalescent plasma, dexamethasone, or a combination of multiple drugs was included in the analysis. Patients receiving remdesivir were administered a 5-day treatment course. Patients with a glomerular filtration rate of less than 30 mL/min, those with liver function tests 5 times the normal reference range, and those who were pregnant were excluded from treatment with remdesivir. Differences in between men and women were detected with χ2 and independent samples t tests. The degree to which presenting symptoms influenced patient outcomes was analyzed with a stepwise logistic regression.

Results

Among the 76 patients who received remdesivir, the mean (95% confidence interval, CI) age was 63 years (59.8–66.2). Thirty-six (47.4%) were men and 40 (52.6%) were women. Forty-nine (64.5%) were White and 27 (35.5%) were nonWhite. The majority of patients (54; 71.1%) had at least 1 comorbid condition, with hypertension being the most common (43; 56.6%). The mean (95% CI) length of stay for patients who received remdesivir was 10.09 days (8.6–11.6) and the mean (95% CI) duration of oxygen therapy was 9.42 days (8.0–10.8). A total of 14 (18.4%) patients given remdesivir were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with an mean (95% CI) length of stay of 9.29 days (5.6–13.0). Women administered remdesivir were more likely to be admitted to the ICU (11 [27.5%] vs 3 [8.3%]; P=.031). The mortality rate was 14 patients (18.4%), with no statistically significant difference observed between men (5; 13.9%) and women (9; 22.5%; P=.33). No significant difference was seen amongst sexes for duration of oxygen therapy (men, 8.0 days [6.2–9.8] vs women, 10.76 days [8.8–12.8]; P=.051) or length of stay (men, 8.61 days [6.7–10.5] vs women, 11.43 days [9.3–13.5]; P=.058). There was no statistically significant difference in pooled racial groups (White vs nonWhite) for in-hospital mortality, number admitted to the ICU, days spent in the ICU, duration of oxygen use, or length of stay.

Conclusion

Remdesivir may show clinical efficacy for the treatment of severe COVID-19 in a community setting. Although this was a small-scale study with limited patients, it represents a point of reference for the use of remdesivir at other community hospitals.