Capra (2020)
Impact of low dose tocilizumab on mortality rate in patients with COVID-19 related pneumonia
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2020.05.009
https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0953620520301941
Treatment
Treatment for COVID-19 (Treated with tocilizumab vs. Not received)
COVID-19 (death)
Hazard ratio: 0.035 (0.004-0.347) Adjusted model

Italy

Retrospective observational study

Medical records

62

Consecutive patients admitted to Montichiari hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia and acute respiratory syndrome were retrospectively evaluated

inclusion criterion, at least one of the following conditions: 1) respiratory rate >= 30 breaths/min, 2) peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) <= 93% while breathing room air, 3) PaO2/FiO2 <=300 mmHg. Patients with critical respiratory syndrome, needing mechanical ventilation at onset, were not included. Only confirmed cases of COVID-19, defined by a positive result on a reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay of a specimen collected on a nasopharyngeal swab, were considered.

Total

20 Day


COVID-19 (death)

13

in hospital deaths


Treatment

Treatment for COVID-19

patients treated with tocilizumab

Not received

Treated with tocilizumab


Hazard ratio

0.035 (0.004-0.347)

Yes

No

Yes

adjusting for baseline variables age, sex, presence of comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease) and serum PCR at admission.


none

Average

No