The study analyzed data on 3,924 COVID-19 patients in intensive care across 68 U.S. hospitals from March 4 to May 10. The estimated 30-day mortality rate for patients who received the drug was 27.5 percent, compared to 37 percent for those that didn’t receive the treatment.
The findings support the notion that COVID-19 treatments may be most effective at different times, with tocilizumab providing the most benefits when given early on in a hospitalization, lead study author David Leaf, MD, a kidney specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston told USA Today.
“If you wait too long, you’re waiting for irreversible organ injury to have occurred,” Dr. Leaf told USA Today.
Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody treatment that stabilizes extreme immune reactions commonly seen in severe COVID-19 cases. The drug is typically administered to COVID-19 patients once through an intravenous injection, with a second dose given a few days later if necessary, according to USA Today.
More articles on patient outcomes:
Colorado shuts down psychiatric hospital, seeks to revoke its license
Advanced life support can help critically ill COVID-19 patients survive, study shows
Acute kidney injury boosts death risk in COVID-19 patients, Northwell study finds
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.