TABLE 1.
Baseline characteristics of studied COVID‐19 patients treated with tocilizumab (TCZ) versus the standard of care
| Parameters | TCZ (n = 51) | Standard of care (n = 78) | p‐value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years), Mean ± SD (range) | 54.1 ± 14.7 (19–88.5) | 57.2 ± 13.2 (21–84.0) | 0.291 |
| Gender, no. (%) | |||
| Male | 33 (64.7%) | 50 (64.1%) | 0.944 |
| Female | 18 (35.3%) | 28 (35.9%) | |
| Nationality, No. (%) | |||
| Kuwaiti | 30 (58.8%) | 39 (50%) | |
| Non‐Kuwaiti | 21 (41.2%) | 39 (50%) | 0.326 |
| BMI (kg/m2), Mean ± SD | 29.1 ± 3.2 | 29.0 ± 4.3 | 0.505 |
| BMI Class, No. (%) | |||
| Normal | 4 (7.8%) | 9 (11.5%) | 0.731 |
| Overweight | 29 (56.9%) | 40 (51.3%) | |
| Obese | 18 (35.3%) | 29 (37.2%) | |
| Comorbidities No. (%) | |||
| None | 19 (37.3%) | 22 (28.2%) | 0.280 |
| DM | 23 (45.1%) | 36 (46.2%) | 0.906 |
| HTN | 19 (37.3%) | 42 (53.8%) | 0.065 |
| IHD | 4 (7.8%) | 7 (9.0%) | 1.000 |
| CKD | 3 (5.9%) | 5 (6.4%) | 1.000 |
| COPD | 3 (5.9%) | 0 | 0.060 |
| BA | 2 (3.9%) | 5 (6.4%) | 0.703 |
| Others | 4 7.8%) | 10 (12.8%) | 0.374 |
| Charlson's Comorbidity Score, median (IQR) | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–4) | 0.216 |
| Days from the onset of symptoms to hospital admission | 5 (3–7) | 6 (4–7) | 0.109 |
| Body temperature (°C) | 37.7 (37–38) | 37.5 (37–37.8) | 0.069 |
| Respiratory rate (breaths/min) | 33.4 (31 – 38) | 34.1 (32 – 37) | 0.368 |
| PaO2:FiO2 ratio | 136.4 (93 – 182) | 119.7 (76.0 – 200.0) | 0.505 |
| qSOFA | 1 (1–2) | 1 (1–2) | 0.934 |
| Laboratory tests, median (IQR) | |||
| Haemoglobin (g/L) | 115.0 (107.0–128.0) | 115.0 (104.0–123.0) | 0.760 |
| WBCs (109/L) | 10.1 (7.2–13.3) | 8.6 (6.0–11.5) | 0.134 |
| Lymphocyte count | 0.8 (0.6–0.8) | 0.8 (0.6–1.0) | 0.130 |
| Neutrophils | 9.0 (5.6–11.2) | 7.2 (4.8–10.1) | 0.080 |
| Platelets (×103) | 301 (203 – 383) | 262 (178 – 337) | 0.076 |
| Ferritin (ng/ml) | 1758 (1300–2413) | 1666 (1405–2156) | 0.897 |
| CRP (mg/L) | 246 (192–392) | 204 (157–383) | 0.109 |
| LDH (IU/L) | 645 (513–815) | 605 (479–750) | 0.189 |
| D‐Dimer (ng/ml) | 1775 (1024–3218) | 1920 (1475–2895) | 0.615 |
| PCT (ng/mL) | 0.2 (0.1–0.4) | 0.2 (0.1–0.7) | 0.840 |
| Serum AST (IU/L) | 38.0 (31.0–51.0) | 44.0 (29.0–61.0) | 0.180 |
| Serum ALT (IU/L) | 35.0 (24.0–47.0) | 29.5 (21.0–50.0) | 0.571 |
| Serum creatinine (μmol/L) | 73.0 (56.0–87.0) | 78 (67.0–92.0) | 0.098 |
| Radiological lung involvement | |||
| Unilateral | 6 (11.8%) | 8 (10.3%) | 0.788 |
| Bilateral | 45 (88.2%) | 70 (89.7%) | |
| Co‐interventions, No. (%) | |||
| Antibiotics | 49 (96.1%) | 74 (94.8%) | 0.750 |
| Antiviral (Lopinavir/ritonavir, HCQ) | 29 (56.9%) | 42 (53.8%) | 0.736 |
| Azithromycin | 2 (3.9%) | 3 (3.85%) | 1.000 |
| Glucocorticoids | 38 (74.5%) | 68 (87.2%) | 0.066 |
| Vitamin D | 21 (41.2%) | 43 (55.1%) | 0.121 |
| Therapeutic anticoagulants | 51 (100%) | 73 (93.6%) | 0.156 |
| Statin | 9 (17.6%) | 21 (26.9%) | 0.223 |
| ARB/ACE | 11 (21.6%) | 20 (25.6%) | 0.597 |
| Need for ventilatory support, No. (%) | 26 (51.0%) | 44 (56.4%) | 0.545 |
| ICU admission, No. (%) | 43 (84.3%) | 63 (80.8%) | 0.607 |
Numerical variables – median (interquartile range); Categorical variables – frequency (%).
Abbreviations: ACEIs, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ARBs, angiotensin II receptor blockers; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; BA, Bronchial Asthma; BMI, body mass index; CKD, chronic kidney disease; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CRP, C‐reactive protein; DM, diabetes mellitus; FiO2, fraction of inspired oxygen; GIT, gastrointestinal tract; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; HTN, hypertension; ICU, intensive care unit;IHD, ischaemic heart disease; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; PaO2, arterial oxygen partial pressure; PCT, procalcitonin; qSOFA, quick sequential organ failure assessment; TCZ, tocilizumab; WBC, white blood cell.