Baricitinib plus dexamethasone compared to dexamethasone for the treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia: A retrospective analysis

Abstract

Objective We aimed to analyze clinical outcomes from patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia that received either baricitinib plus dexamethasone or dexamethasone monotherapy. Methodology We performed a retrospective comparative study. Data from hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia (saturation <93%, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates) that were treated with baricitinib plus dexamethasone or dexamethasone were collected. Our primary objective was to compare overall mortality and secondly to compare progression to mechanical ventilation and over infection rates. Results A total of 793 patients were assessed for inclusion criteria, 596 were excluded and 197 were analyzed for primary outcome: 123 in the baricitinib plus dexamethasone group and 74 in the dexamethasone monotherapy group. The mean age was 59.9 years (SD ± 14.5) and 62.1% (123/197) were male. 42.9% (85/197) of the cases required ICU admission and 25.8% (51/197) underwent invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Overall thirty-day mortality was 27.9% (55/197); Mortality was significantly lower in the baricitinib plus dexamethasone group compared to the dexamethasone monotherapy group (20.3% vs 40.5%, P =<.05). There was no difference in hospital acquired infections between both groups. Conclusion Thirty-day mortality was significantly lower in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with baricitinib plus dexamethasone versus dexamethasone monotherapy. No difference was observed in progression to invasive mechanical ventilation and hospital acquired infections.

Update on human genetic susceptibility to COVID-19: susceptibility to virus and response

“…This class enlists the monoclonal antibody baricitinib. Several studies reported the efficiency of the compound whether in association or not with a steroid therapy, and/or with other compounds (e.g., Remdesivir) [31][32][33][34][35][36]. DPP9 is located on chromosome 19p13.3 and encodes for a serine protease, the dipeptidyl peptidase 9, and is involved in several stages of the inflammatory response [37][38][39].…”

PEGylated green halloysite/spinel ferrite nanocomposites for pH sensitive delivery of dexamethasone: A potential pulmonary drug delivery treatment option for COVID-19

“…In that, a combo group contains 123 patients, while remaining 74 patients received Dex alone. The mortality rate was found to be significantly reduced in a group treated with baricitinib-Dex (20.3%) than Dex alone (40.5%) ( Perez-Alba et al, 2021 ).…”

Clinical efficacy and adverse events of baricitinib treatment for coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19): A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Pooled data from two studies 8,23 of 903 patients showed that the requirement of noninvasive mechanical ventilation was similar between the baricitinib group and the control groups (RR = 1.50; 95% CI: 0.40-5.55; p = 0.54; I 2 = 87%; Figure 5C).…”

“…We then identified 46 highly relevant articles by searching titles and abstracts and eliminating repetitions. After examining the content further, 12 studies comprising 3564 patients 8,9,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]…”