(27 Sep 2020) Tocilizumab- associated with a lower risk of death or ICU or death in patients with higher CRP levels

Effects of tocilizumab on mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A multicenter cohort study

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2020.09.021

A total of 1,229 patients were analyzed, with 261 patients (61 deaths) in the tocilizumab group and 969 patients (120 deaths) in the control group. In the adjusted marginal structural models, a significant interaction between tocilizumab use and high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels was detected. Tocilizumab was associated with decreased risk of death (aHR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16-0.72, p=0.005) and ICU admission or death (aHR 0.38, 95% CI 0.19-0.81, p=0.011) among patients with baseline CRP >150 mg/L, but not among those with CRP </=150 mg/L. Exploratory subgroup analyses yielded point estimates that were consistent with these findings. In this large observational study, tocilizumab was associated with a lower risk of death or ICU or death in patients with higher CRP levels.