LAUSR

BACKGROUND Ivermectin has been found to inhibit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) replication in vitro. It is unknown whether this inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 replication correlates with improved clinical outcomes. OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness and safety of ivermectin in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. METHODS AND MATERIALS A total of 286 patients with COVID-19 were included in the study. Univariate analysis of the primary mortality outcome and comparisons between treatment groups were determined. Logistic regression and propensity score matching (PSM) was used to adjust for confounders. RESULTS Patients in the ivermectin group received 2 doses of ivermectin at 200 μg/kg in addition to usual clinical care on hospital days 1 and 3. The ivermectin group had a significantly higher length of hospital stay than the control group; however, this significance did not maintain on multivariable logistic regression analysis. The length of ICU stay and duration of mechanical ventilation were longer in the control group. However, a mortality benefit was not seen with ivermectin treatment before and after PSM (p values = 0.07 and 0.11, respectively). Intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and intubation rate were not significantly different between the groups (p=0.49, and p=1.0, respectively). CONCLUSION No differences were found between groups regarding the length of hospital stay, ICU admission, intubation rate, and in-hospital mortality. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.