Comparison of the Efficacy of Baricitinib, Tocilizumab, and High-Dose Corticosteroids with High-dose Corticosteroids in Patients with COVID-19: a Retrospective Study

Background

Immunomodulatory medications can induce adverse effects in patients. Because the comparative efficacy and safety of immunomodulatory medications in patients with Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) remains insufficiently characterized, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the clinical effects of different immunomodulatory medications in COVID-19 treatment. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, descriptive-analytical study evaluated 165 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2022. Demographic and paraclinical variables were compared among patients treated with baricitinib, tocilizumab, and high-dose corticosteroids. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 26, employing descriptive indices, post hoc test, chi-square, and analysis of variance. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.