Effect of remdesivir post hospitalization for COVID-19 infection from the randomized SOLIDARITY Finland trial
Olli Nevalainen, Saana Horstia, Sanna Laakkonen, Jarno Rutanen, Jussi M. J. Mustonen, Ilkka Kalliala, Hanna Ansakorpi, Hanna‐Riikka Kreivi, Pauliina Kuutti, Juuso Paajanen, Seppo Parkkila, Erja‐Leena Paukkeri, Markus Perola, Negar Pourjamal, Andreas Renner, Tuomas Rosberg, Taija Rutanen, Joni Savolainen, Solidarity Finland Investigators, Tero Ala‐Kokko, Jaakko Antonen, Jutta Delany, Heikki Ekroos, Riina Hankkio, Mia Haukipää, Iivo Hetemäki, Pia Holma, Ville Holmberg, Ville Jalkanen, Jenni Jouppila, Toni Jämsänen, Juuso Järventie, Petrus Järvinen, Heikki Kauma, Tuomas P. Kilpeläinen, Riitta Komulainen, Ilari Kuitunen, Satu Lamminmäki, Tiina Mattila, Marjukka Myllärniemi, Laura K. Mäkinen, Jarkko Mäntylä, Gitte Määttä, Joni Niskanen, Taina Nykänen, Miro Nyqvist, Terhi Partanen, Riitta-Liisa Patovirta, Emmi Puusti, Emma Reponen, Sari Risku, Mari Saalasti, Päivi Salonen, Marjatta U. Sinisalo, Katariina Sivenius, Petrus Säilä, Susanna Tuominen, Jari Haukka, Gordon Guyatt, Kari A.O. Tikkinen
Abstract
We report the first long-term follow-up of a randomized trial (NCT04978259) addressing the effects of remdesivir on recovery (primary outcome) and other patient-important outcomes one year after hospitalization resulting from COVID-19. Of the 208 patients recruited from 11 Finnish hospitals, 198 survived, of whom 181 (92%) completed follow-up. At one year, self-reported recovery occurred in 85% in remdesivir and 86% in standard of care (SoC) (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.47-1.90). We infer no convincing difference between remdesivir and SoC in quality of life or symptom outcomes (p > 0.05). Of the 21 potential long-COVID symptoms, patients reported moderate/major bother from fatigue (26%), joint pain (22%), and problems with memory (19%) and attention/concentration (18%). In conclusion, after a one-year follow-up of hospitalized patients, one in six reported they had not recovered well from COVID-19. Our results provide no convincing evidence of remdesivir benefit, but wide confidence intervals included possible benefit and harm.