AUTHOR=Yang Chun-Chi , Tsai Ya-Wen , Wang Su-Hung , Wu Jheng-Yan , Liu Ting-Hui , Hsu Wan-Hsuan , Huang Po-Yu , Chuang Min-Hsiang , Sheu Ming-Jen , Lai Chih-Cheng
TITLE=The effectiveness of oral anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a retrospective study
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology
VOLUME=15
YEAR=2024
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1321155
DOI=10.3389/fphar.2024.1321155
ISSN=1663-9812
ABSTRACT=Background: The effectiveness of the novel oral antiviral agents, nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir and molnupiravir, in treating COVID-19 in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is unclear.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of novel oral antiviral agents against COVID-19 among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX Research Network to identify non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease between 1 January 2022, and 30 June 2023. Propensity score matching was used to form two matched cohorts treated with or without nirmatrelvir-ritonavir or molnupiravir.
Results: In the two matched cohorts of 6,358 patients each, the use of novel oral antiviral agents was associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cause emergency department visits, hospitalization, or mortality (6.59% versus 8.24%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70–0.91). The novel antiviral group had a significantly lower risk of all-cause emergency department visits (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74–0.99). Additionally, the incidence of hospitalization was significantly lower in the oral antiviral group than in the control group (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.55–0.90). There were no deaths in the oral antiviral group but 12 deaths in the control group.
Conclusion: Novel oral antiviral agents are beneficial for treating COVID-19 in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.