Asociación de antidepresivos y la reducción de intubación orotraqueal o muerte en los pacientes con COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction

Studies suggest that antidepressant use may prevent clinical deterioration in patients with COVID-19; however, there is insufficient information in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure.

Objective

To associate the composite outcome of orotracheal intubation or in-hospital mortality with the use of antidepressants in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19.

Methodology

A retrospective cohort study, of patients admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 and who in turn required non-invasive airway management in their first 48 hours; the sample was collected by convenience, differences in outcomes were analyzed according to antidepressant exposure (no exposure, receiving less than 3 doses, receiving 3 or more doses) by bivariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

201 records were reviewed, the primary outcome of orotracheal intubation or in-hospital mortality was lower in patients receiving 3 or more doses of antidepressants compared to the other 2 comparison groups (15.2 vs. 66.7 vs. 51.6%; P<.001); this result was mainly influenced by the lower proportion requiring orotracheal intubation in patients receiving 3 doses or more of antidepressants (13.9 vs. 66.7 vs. 51.6%; P<.001), these associations were also found in the multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

This study suggests an association in decreased risk of orotracheal intubation in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 when ingesting antidepressants for at least 3 continuous doses.