Antihistamines and azithromycin as a treatment for COVID-19 on primary health care – A retrospective observational study in elderly patients

• Published in: Pulmonary pharmacology & therapeutics Vol. 67; p. 101989
• Main Authors: Morán Blanco, Juan Ignacio, Alvarenga Bonilla, Judith A., Homma, Sakae, Suzuki, Kazuo, Fremont-Smith, Philip, Villar Gómez de las Heras, Karina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2021
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antihistamines; Azithromycin; Azithromycin - therapeutic use; Coronavirus; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - virology; COVID-19 Drug Treatment; Elderly; Female; Histamine Antagonists - therapeutic use; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Primary Health Care; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification; Spain - epidemiology; Treatment Outcome; Spain; Antihistamines; SARS-CoV-2; Coronavirus; Elderly; Azithromycin
• ISSN: 1094-5539; 1522-9629
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pupt.2021.101989

Between March and April 2020, 84 elderly patients with suspected COVID-19 living in two nursing homes of Yepes, Toledo (Spain) were treated early with antihistamines (dexchlorpheniramine, cetirizine or loratadine), adding azithromycin in the 25 symptomatic cases. The outcomes are retrospectively reported. The primary endpoint is the fatality rate of COVID-19. The secondary endpoints are the hospital and ICU admission rates. Endpoints were compared with the official Spanish rates for the elderly. The mean age of our population was 85 and 48% were over 80 years old. No hospital admissions, deaths, nor adverse drug effects were reported in our patient population. By the end of June, 100% of the residents had positive serology for COVID-19. Although clinical trials are needed to determine the efficacy of both drugs in the treatment of COVID-19, this analysis suggests that primary care diagnosis and treatment with antihistamines, plus azithromycin in selected cases, may treat COVID-19 and prevent progression to severe disease in elderly patients. •Early treatment of COVID-19 in Primary Care with antihistamines and azithromycin.•Antihistamines may also be considered a prophylactic treatment for COVID-19.•Decrease in hospital admissions and fatality rate in elderly population.•Antihistamines may control the immune response and cytokine storm in COVID-19.