TOCILIZUMAB IN COVID-19: EAST-AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

TYPE: Abstract TOPIC: Critical Care PURPOSE: COVID-19 has infected more than 221 million people globally. Treatments have been challenging due to inconsistencies in the study results. The Tocilizumab has been advocated in the treatment of cytokine storm due to COVID-19 severe infection. We undertook the study to look at the benefits and the side effects of Tocilizumab in the East African population METHODS: After approval from the institutional IRB, a retrospective, chart review observational study was conducted on patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from March 2020-December 2020. RESULTS: 913 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 during this period. Ninety-three patients received the Tocilizumab, and 820 patients did not receive the Tocilizumab. The mean age of the patient in the Tocilizumab group was 59.32 (+/-15.8), and the patient not receiving the Tocilizumab group was 50.25 9 (+/-16.51; p <0.001). 17.2% (16/93) of patients in the Tocilizumab group had the infection compared to 4.2% (39/820) in the non-Tocilizumab group (p<0.001). Patients in the Tocilizumab were more critical 37.5% vs. 3.5% in the non-Tocilizumab group. There was no difference in the mortality between Tocilizumab and the non-tocilizumab group (9.7% vs. 8.5%; p=0.846). CONCLUSIONS: Higher infections were seen in the patient receiving the Tocilizumab group compared to the non-Tocilizumab group. The mortality rate was not different among both groups, but patients were sicker among the Tocilizumab group. A larger randomized control trial needs is suggested in African Population CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Tocilizumab offers a choice in the management of the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. Its role remains unclear in the African subset population due to limited data. DISCLOSURE: Nothing to declare. KEYWORD: Tocilizumab