Results of an open observational multicenter study of the effectiveness and tolerability of levodropropizine in comparison with standard antitussive therapy (real practice) in the treatment of patients with COVID-19

Abstract

Cough is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease-2019), occurring in more than 70% of cases. The cough associated with the new coronavirus infection tends to be non-productive and requires symptomatic antitussive therapy. However, at present, there is insufficient data on the effectiveness of various antitussive agents in COVID-19.The aim. Analysis of the clinical and economic efficiency and safety of the use of levodropropizin in comparison with standard symptomatic therapy of patients with a new coronavirus infection COVID-19 in the real-life clinical setting.Methods. An open observational multicenter study was conducted in Moscow, Krasnodar, Kazan, Voronezh, and Rostov-on-Don. The study enrolled 250 inpatient COVID 19 patients (1 875 years) with complaints of dry unproductive cough which required symptomatic treatment. The main group included 150 people who received levodropropizine according to the label. The comparison group received other antitussive drugs. Each patient was examined on days 1, 4 and 8. The examination included collection of the current complaints and medical history, physical examination and assessment of the intensity of cough using day and night cough assessment scale using a 6-point scale for assessing daytime and nighttime cough and a visual analog scale (VAS).Results. In the main group, significant differences were revealed between the baseline and Day 4 in the form of a significant decrease in the severity of daytime cough (р = 0.002); significant differences were found between Day 4 and Day 8 for both daytime (р = 0.002) and nocturnal cough (р = 0.0001). The comparison group showed positive dynamics, but significant differences were seen only between the baseline and Day 8 at night (р = 0.001). The severity of cough on VAS scale in the main group differed significantly on Day 8 as compared to baseline (р = 0.001), as well as between Day 4 and Day 8 (р = 0.002). No significant differences were seen in the comparison group. No adverse effects were observed during treatment with levodropropizine.Conclusion. Levodropropizine has shown high efficacy and safety in the treatment of dry unproductive cough in comparison with standard symptomatic therapy in the form of a significant decrease in cough intensity according to both scales, starting from the 4th day.