Meta analysis using the most serious outcome reported shows 2% [-6‑11%] higher risk, without reaching statistical significance. Meta regression with followup duration shows that mortality results are worse with longer followup. This may reflect antiviral efficacy being offset by side effects of treatment.
Studies show significantly increased risk of acute kidney injury1-6 and liver injury7-10. Variants may be less susceptible to remdesivir11-13.
Prescription treatments have been preferentially used by patients at lower risk14. Retrospective studies may overestimate efficacy, for example patients with greater knowledge of effective treatments may be more likely to access prescription treatments but result in confounding because they are also more likely to use known beneficial non-prescription treatments.
All data and sources to reproduce this analysis are in the appendix.
Covid Analysis et al., May 2025, preprint, 1 author.
