Rev Clin Esp (Barc). 2023 Jul 21:S2254-8874(23)00092-9. doi: 10.1016/j.rceng.2023.07.006. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND AIM: N-acetylcysteine has been proposed for the treatment of COVID-19 thanks to its mucolytic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Our aim is to evaluate its effect on patients admitted with COVID-19 in mortality terms.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective single-center cohort study. All patients admitted to our hospital for COVID-19 from March to April 2020 have been considered.
RESULTS: A total of 378 patients were included, being 196 (51.9%) men, with an average age of 73.3 ± 14.5 years. 52.6% (199) received treatment with N-Acetylcysteine. More than 70% presented coughs, fever, and/or dyspnea. The global hospital mortality was 26.7%. A multivariate analysis through logistic regression identified the age of patients [older than 80; OR: 8.4 (CI95%:3-23.4)], a moderate or severe radiologic affectation measured by the RALE score [OR:7.3 (CI95%:3.2-16.9)], the tobacco consumption [OR:2.8 (CI95%:1.3-6.1)] and previous arrhythmia [OR 2.8 (CI95%: 1.3-6.2)]as risk factor that were independently associated with mortality during the admission. The treatment with N-Acetylcysteine was identified as a protective factor [OR: 0.57 (CI95%: 0.31-0.99)]. Asthma also seems to have a certain protective factor although it was not statistically significant in our study [OR: 0.19 (CI95%: 0.03-1.06)].
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 treated with N-acetylcysteine have presented a lower mortality and a better evolution in this study. Future prospective studies or randomized clinical trials must confirm the impact of N-Acetylcysteine on COVID-19 patients.
PMID:37482215 | DOI:10.1016/j.rceng.2023.07.006
