EFFECTS OF TOCILIZUMAB AND SYSTEMIC CORTICOSTEROIDS IN PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE ON CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN COVID-19

Zudi Osmani; Belma Paralija; Rusmir Baljić

doi:10.22270/ujpr.v9i6.1237

Zudi Osmani Institute for public health, Mehmeda Spahe 1, 72270 Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Belma Paralija Clinic of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo, Bardakcije 90, 71000 Sarajevo.
Rusmir Baljić Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Bolnicka 25, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

10.22270/ujpr.v9i6.1237

Keywords:

COVID-19, corticosteroids, respiratory disease, tocilizumab

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus, with a high mortality, especially in patients with underlying diseases. Patients with COVID-19 pneumonia may express an immune response such as cytokine storm or macrophage activation syndrome, which can lead to organ failure and death.Some studies suggest that corticosteroid and tocilizumab can improve the respiratory status and clinical outcome of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the potential effect of the use of tocilizumab and corticosteroids in patients with concomitant cardiovascular diseases on the clinical course and outcome during COVID-19 infection.

Methods: We performed an observational retrospective study of adult patients admitted to “Travnik” and “Jajce” Hospital, Bosnia and Herzegovina, between 01.03.2020 and 01.12.2022 with confirmed COVID-19 and underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Results: The majority of patients (110 or 60.4%) had previously reported cardiomyopathy, and other cardiovascular disease included earlier myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac surgery, compensated cardial disease, and acute myocardial infarction. Total of 159 (87.4%) patients received corticosteroids during treatment. Tocilizumab has been used in 16 patients; nine survived and seven died.

Conclusion: Even some studies proved that it might improve clinical presentation and prevent lethal outcomes; in our study there were no significant results to confirm this thesis.