Abstract
Objective: To assess the effectiveness and safety of
nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19
caused by the omicron BA. 2. 2 variant.
Methods: An observational study was conducted retrospectively
to review the outcomes of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients admitted
between 26 April and 30 June, 2022. Patients’ baseline characteristics
were collected and assessed. Participants in the intervention group were
administered nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in addition to standard care,
whereas those in the control group only received standard care. The
primary outcome was the duration between symptoms onset or the initial
positive RT-PCR test and the subsequent conversion to a negative result.
Results: The analysis included 324 patients who were
administered nirmatrelvir-ritonavir and an equal number of control
patients. The patient characteristics in both groups were
evenly matched. The average duration
from symptoms onset or the initial positive RT-PCR to negative
conversion was similar in both groups (16.2±5.0 vs. 16.1±6.3 days,
P=0.83). Control patients exhibited slower conversion in comparison to
patients who received nirmatrelvir-ritonavir treatment within 10 days of
symptom onset.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that administering
nirmatrelvir-ritonavir within 10 days of symptom onset could potentially
reduce the time it takes for SARS-CoV-2-infected patients to negative
RT-PCR results, thereby expanding the current usage guidelines for
nirmatrelvir-ritonavir.
Keywords : Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, COVID-19, observational study