Use of N-Acetylcysteine at high doses as an oral treatment for patients hospitalized with COVID-19
Izquierdo et al.,
Use of N-Acetylcysteine at high doses as an oral treatment for patients hospitalized with COVID-19,
Science Progress, doi:10.1177/00368504221074574
Retrospective 19,208 COVID+ hospitalized patients in Spain, 2,071 treated with high dose NAC, showing lower mortality with treatment. In multivariable analysis, authors adjust for corticosteroids, but do not adjust for HCQ use which was also significantly more common in the NAC group. NAC 600mg every 8 hours.
This study is excluded in the after exclusion results of meta
analysis:
significant unadjusted confounding possible.
risk of death, 25.6% lower, RR 0.74, p < 0.001, treatment 136 of 2,071 (6.6%), control 1,935 of 17,137 (11.3%), adjusted per study, odds ratio converted to relative risk, multivariable.
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Izquierdo et al., 27 Jan 2022, retrospective, Spain, peer-reviewed, 7 authors, study period 1 March, 2020 - 24 January, 2021.
Abstract: Original Manuscript
SCIENCE PROGRESS
Use of N-Acetylcysteine at high
doses as an oral treatment for
patients hospitalized with
COVID-19
Science Progress
2022, Vol. 105(1) 1–12
© The Author(s) 2022
Article reuse guidelines:
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DOI: 10.1177/00368504221074574
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José Luis Izquierdo1,2 ,
Joan B Soriano3,4,5, Yolanda González6,
Sara Lumbreras6,7, Julio Ancochea3,4,5 ,
Christian Echeverry6 and
José Miguel Rodríguez1,8
1
Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Universidad de Alcalá,
Madrid, Spain
2
Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara,
Guadalajara, Spain
3
Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid,
Spain
4
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
5
Respiratory Diseases Networking Biomedical Research Centre
(CIBERES), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
6
SAVANA
7
Universidad Pontificia Comillas-IIT, Madrid, Spain
8
Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias,
Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Abstract
Infection by SARS-CoV-2 causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be associated with
serious and life-threatening conditions, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Severity and mortality have been related to a cytokine storm, an imbalance of oxidative stress,
and a pro-thrombotic state.
We conducted an observational retrospective cohort study from a community-based large
population of hospitalized COVID-19 PCR + patients admitted from March 01, 2020, to January
24, 2021, with integrated primary to tertiary care information in Castilla la Mancha, Spain. We
Corresponding author:
Sara Lumbreras, Institute for Research in Technology, Universidad Pontificia Comillas-IIT, C/ Santa Cruz de
Marcenado, 26. 28015, Madrid, Spain.
Email: slumbreras@comillas.edu
Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original
work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
2
Science Progress 105(1)
explored the potential benefits of the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic drug Nacetylcysteine (NAC) administered orally in high doses (600 mg every 8 h), added to standard of
care in COVID-19 patients by using the free text information contained in their electronic health
records (EHRs).
Out of 19,208 patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 hospitalized, we studied 2071 (10.8%)
users of oral NAC at high doses. COVID-19 patients treated with NAC were older, predominantly
male, and with more comorbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and COPD when
compared with those not on NAC (all p < 0.05). Despite greater baseline risk, use of NAC in
COVID-19 patients was associated with significantly lower mortality (OR 0.56; 95%CI 0.47–
0.67), a finding that remained significant in a multivariate analysis adjusting by baseline characteristics and concomitant use of corticosteroids. There were no significant differences with the use of
NAC on the mean duration of hospitalization, admission to the intensive care unit or use of invasive mechanical ventilation. The observed association signaling to better relevant outcomes in
COVID-19 patients..
Late treatment
is less effective
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