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Ivermectin Use Associated with Reduced Duration of COVID-19 Febrile Illness in a Community Setting

29 Pages Posted: 15 Dec 2020

See all articles by Nasir Afsar

Nasir Afsar

Jinnah Medical and Dental College

Muhammad Ishaq Ghauri

Jinnah Medical College Hospital

Muslim Abbas

Jinnah Medical and Dental College

Muhammad Shariq Mukarram

Jinnah Medical College Hospital

Muhammad Yahya Peracha

Jinnah Medical and Dental College

Khizra Ishaq

Jinnah Medical and Dental College

More...

Abstract

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) is a potentially lethal disease that may progress into severe respiratory distress syndrome requiring ventilatory support. While azithromycin (AZI) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are considered similar to placebo in COVID-19, other drugs such as ivermectin (IVER), are being repurposed to treat this pandemic. This study was designed to assess the effects of ivermectin on duration of febrile illness and disease outcomes in mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection in a community setting.

METHODS: In this case-control study 95 suspected patients of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 were included. The controls (Group-A) received AZI+HCQ for seven days while the cases (Group-B) received IVER+AZI+HCQ for six days.

RESULTS: A total of 41 patients were in Group-B, while 54 patients were in Group-A. Group-B had consistently and significantly shorter span of fever on days 5, 7, 10 and 14, where the logistic regression showed IVER as the major (Exp B 49·55; p<0·001) underlying factor. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that Group-A had a prolonged febrile illness (p<0·001).

CONCLUSIONS: Ivermectin use is associated with reduced duration of febrile illness in COVID-19 in outpatient setting, thus potentially saving precious lives, reducing direct load on healthcare facilities and preventing high cost of management in a community setting.

FUNDING: This study did not require any funding.

DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: The authors state there is nothing to declare.

ETHICS APPROVAL STATEMENT: The Ethical Review Committee of Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi approved the study.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Ivermectin; Azithromycin; hydroxychloroquine

Suggested Citation

Afsar, Nasir and Ghauri, Muhammad Ishaq and Abbas, Muslim and Mukarram, Muhammad Shariq and Peracha, Muhammad Yahya and Ishaq, Khizra, Ivermectin Use Associated with Reduced Duration of COVID-19 Febrile Illness in a Community Setting (11/18/2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3734478 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3734478

Nasir Afsar (Contact Author)

Jinnah Medical and Dental College ( email )

Karachi
Pakistan

Muhammad Ishaq Ghauri

Jinnah Medical College Hospital ( email )

Muslim Abbas

Jinnah Medical and Dental College ( email )

Muhammad Shariq Mukarram

Jinnah Medical College Hospital ( email )

Muhammad Yahya Peracha

Jinnah Medical and Dental College ( email )

Khizra Ishaq

Jinnah Medical and Dental College ( email )

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