Effects of Interferon Beta-۱ and Dexamethasone on the Treatment of Hospitalized COVID-۱۹ Patients

Aims: Despite the urgent need to treat the COVID-۱۹ pandemic, no effective treatment has been identified to date. The present study aimed to compare the effects of interferon Beta-۱ and dexamethasone on the treatment of hospitalized COVID-۱۹ patients. Materials & Methods: This phase ۲, open-label, randomized trial examined adult patients who were admitted to hospitals in Yasuj, Iran, from October ۲۰۲۱ to May ۲۰۲۲ due to COVID-۱۹. Patients were randomly assigned to intervention group ۱ (۸۸ patients), which included remdesivir, interferon beta-۱, and dexamethasone, and intervention group ۲ (۸۸ patients), which included remdesivir and dexamethasone, in a ratio of ۱:۱. The mean arterial blood O۲ saturation and length of hospitalization for both groups were compared. Findings: The two groups did not show a significant difference in terms of demographic characteristics and disease-related parameters at baseline (p>۰.۰۵). The mean O۲ saturation at the time of discharge for group ۱ (۹۰.۱۴±۱۰.۷۲) and group ۲ (۹۲.۵۴±۳.۱۹) demonstrated a significant difference (p<۰.۰۵). The mean length of hospitalization for group ۱ (۷.۰۲±۲.۵۶) and group ۲ (۵.۷۳±۲.۰۴) was significantly different (p<۰.۰۱). There was a significant difference between the number of deaths in group ۱ (۷ patients) and group ۲ (۰ patients; p<۰.۰۱). Conclusion: The administration of remdesivir and dexamethasone, compared to remdesivir, dexamethasone, and interferon, results in a decreased length of hospitalization, reduced mortality, and improved O۲ saturation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Patients ، Interferons ، Dexamethasone ، COVID-۱۹