Divergences in Antiviral Therapy for Diabetic Patients with COVID-19 Download PDF

Patients with diabetes are particularly susceptible to COVID-19 infection, which can result in severe respiratory illness. This study conducted a comparative assessment of the impact of antiviral therapy using molnupiravir and favipiravir in COVID-19 patients with underlying diabetes. A cohort of one hundred individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2, diagnosed with diabetes, and consecutively admitted, was included in the present study. These patients were treated with antivirals according to local guidelines: Group F (51 cases) was treated with favipiravir – 10 days and Group M (49 cases) was treated with molnupiravir – 5 days. In Group F, the average hospitalization was higher than in Group M (11.29±2.27 vs. 7.14±3.16, p<0.001). The risk score for severe evolution was less statistically significant at the end point of treatment in group M (156.29±61.32; 160.59±59.41, p<0.001). Administration of molnupiravir led to a decrease in the number of deaths among patients with COVID-19 compared to those treated with favipiravir [2 (4.08%) vs. 9 (17.65%), p=0.034]. Molnupiravir demonstrated superiority over favipiravir in treating SARS-CoV-2 infection in diabetic patients, and controlling or diagnosing diabetes is crucial to prevent the critical progression of COVID-19 patients. Further research is needed to confirm its potential in the management of infected individuals with SARS-CoV-2.