4CPS-313\u2005Experience of the use of baricitinib in COVID-19 pneumonia

Abstract

Background and importanceBaricitinib is an immunosuppressive agent included as one of the therapeutic options for COVID-19 in the Spanish protocol Agencia Española del Medicamento y Productos Sanitarios Aim and objectivesThe objective was to assess the effectiveness of this drug in hospitalised but non-critically ill patients Material and methodsAn observational retrospective study was conducted in a third level hospital from 26 March to 5 May Inclusion criteria were: hospitalised patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia and treated with baricitinib Data collected were: age, gender, comorbidities, severe pneumonia diagnosis, ferritin and interleukin 6 (IL-6) prior to the beginning of treatment with baricitinib, standard of care according to the hospital’s protocol, concomitant treatment with anakinra, duration of treatment with baricitinib, average hospital stay (AHS), deaths and hospital discharges The data were collected from the electronic medical records and the hospital’s management department Results171 patients treated with baricitinib were included, with an average age of 69 5 (34–96) years 71 3% (122) were men 87 1% (149) had comorbidities and 73 1% (125) were diagnosed with a severe pneumonia, with 25% of them dying (31) Median duration of treatment with baricitinib was 5 days (1–12) AHS for the baricitinib group was 14 60 (3–47) days, and AHS for the whole sample of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia was 17 2 days 23 4% (40) of patients had high levels of ferritin (>2500 UI/L) Among them, 87 5% (35) were discharged and 12 5% (5) died IL-6 levels were high (>40 U/L) in 29 8% (51) of patients, 40 UI/L Hence IL-6 level appears to be a better prognostic factor of mortality than ferritin This could also be related to a greater patient’s immune response Regarding treatment effectiveness, mortality of patients who were treated with SoC plus baricitinib was similar to that of patients treated with anakinra plus baricitinib References and/or acknowledgementsConflict of interestNo conflict of interest