A recent study in eClinicalMedicine suggests that the antiviral drugs azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) may not improve survival rates for elderly COVID-19 patients in China. The study was conducted by researchers from the Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing. They analyzed the medical records of 249 COVID-19 patients, aged around 91.4 years, who were hospitalized between December 2022 and January 2023.
The study showed that out of the 249 patients, 128 were given azvudine, 66 received Paxlovid, and 55 did not receive any antiviral treatment. However, neither drug showed a survival benefit. A Cox analysis showed a 0.73 risk of death in the azvudine group and 0.80 in Paxlovid recipients, compared to those who received no antiviral treatment.
The researchers highlighted that COVID-19 causes severe illness and death in the elderly more than any other age group. They also mentioned that elderly patients often have multiple diseases and take multiple drugs, which can make treatment more complex. The study’s authors advised caution when prescribing drugs for these patients.