Effect of edaravone on patients with moderate COVID-19: a single-center non-randomized clinical trial

Background. The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic. There is an urgent need for finding efficient medical treatments to diminish the high mortality rate of the mutant variants of the virus. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of edaravone in patients with moderate COVID-19.

Methods. This single-center non-randomized controlled clinical trial was performed on hospitalized patients with moderate COVID-19. The patients were divided into two groups of intervention (n=17) and control (n=16). Patients in the intervention group received three doses of edaravone (30 mg) for three interval days (Days 2, 4, and 6). Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), need for intubation, and mortality were the primary outcomes.

Results. All cases had 15-60% lung involvement. Although edaravone reduced the admission to ICU, need for intubation, and mortality rate in patients with moderate COVID-19, the results were not statistically significant. Baseline characteristics, admission days, and clinical parameters were similar between the two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion. Administration of edaravone 30 mg for three days had no significant effect on the overall outcome of patients with moderate COVID-19.

Practical Implications. In this study, none of the COVID-19 patients receiving edaravone had ICU admission, intubation, and mortality. However, no significant difference was found between the clinical outcomes of the control and intervention groups.