Role of Tocilizumab in Combating Cytokine Storm in Moderate & Severe Covid 19 Patients: Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background: The wide spread of COVID-19 disease and mortality associated with it as never seen before urged the medical research field to formulate and investigate the efficacy of various new drugs alongside with the existing drugs. Objective: To evaluate the potential benefits of Tocilizumab (TCZ) in addition to the Standard of Care (SoC) in reducing mortality in moderate & severely ill COVID 19. Methodology: Study population is sorted by 1:1 matching depending on the High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) Chest CT Severity Score. Outcome is measured as deaths, discharge with or without Long Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT) along with clinical improvement of the patient measured using 9 points ordinary scale score of WHO and length of stay in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) post administration & levels of inflammatory markers (CRP, IL 6) on day of administration- baseline (D0), 1- & 3-days post administration (D+1 & D+3). The group received TCZ+SoC is considered as Test Group and the group received only SoC as Control Group. Results: Deaths and discharge with LTOT were slightly higher in test group with OR 1.68 & 1.63 respectively. Clinical improvement in terms of 9-point ordinary scale score & difference in the levels of CRP & IL 6 was insignificant in both the groups. No difference in post administration ICU stay is observed between the groups. Conclusions: Our study concludes no marked benefits with the addition of TCZ to the SoC in treating moderate and severe COVID 19 patients.