Treatment Patterns of Tocilizumab Utilization for Progressive Respiratory Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6029.2022.11.18Keywords:
Respiratory Distress, COVID 19 Treatment, TocilizumabAbstract
Purpose: This study’s objective was to describe treatment patterns of patients receiving then experimental drug tocilizumab for severe respiratory illness.
Methodology: It is a retrospective case series of patients receiving tocilizumab for COVID-19 at a 380-bed hospital between 03/01/202 and 05/31/2020. Treatment patterns for tocilizumab for this series of ICU patients was modeled using a Spearman rho correlation for ranked associations.
Results: There was significant variation in frequency and serial testing of inflammatory markers. There was no correlation between tocilizumab initiation and worsening respiratory status (r=0.19, p=.48) or between days since dosing and survival (R= -0.02, p= .95). No clear pattern emerged from tocilizumab administration during the pandemic.
Conclusion: Protocols for untested new treatments are needed to overcome the uncertainty physicians face during pandemics.
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