What is The Case of More Accessible Treatment Options in COVID 19: Comparison of Hydroxychloroquine and Favipiravir Based on Laboratory Values?

INTRODUCTION: Two of the drugs are frequently used in COVID-19 treatment algorithm because of their low cost, easy availability and application; hydroxychloroquine(HCQ) and Favipiravir. Our aim in this study is to compare the laboratory parameters of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 Pneumonia in whomHCQ and Favipiravir treatment was initiated and to reveal the difference in the effectiveness of the treatments.
METHODS: 64COVID-19 patients whose diagnoses were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction testand pneumonia image compatible with COVID-19 onThoraxCT were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups: treated with HCQ,treated with favipiravir and who were switched to favipiravir treatment when they did not benefit fromHCQ.We compared the laboratory values on Day1, Day5 and at discharge.
RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in which HCQ and Favipiravir was initiated. In the patient group who did not improve withHCQ and switched to favipiravir treatment,D-dimer and CRP values was statistically significant(p: 0.029, p: 0.048). PLT, Hemoglobin,RDW, MPV, NLR,PLR,INR values did not change significantly in any patient group.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our study with the most commonly used drugs in our country reveals that HCQ andFavipiravir are not superior to each other.When we changed the treatment with favipiravir in the group of patients receiving HCQ, D-dimer and CRPvalues decreased during discharge. This finding shows how effective the timely treatment change is in the recovery of the patient by closely following the patient clinically and interpreting the laboratory values correctly.We should direct the treatment of our patients by following the symptoms, risk factors and laboratory values.