The Effectiveness and Safety of Favipiravir in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients in Bali, Indonesia

COVID-19 is a major public health problem, with still questionable specific cure. Favipiravir is a COVID-19 antiviral that is included in several drugs, potentially a therapy for COVID-19. This study aimed to analyze its efficacy and safety in moderate to critical hospitalized patients. This study was a retrospective cohort in Denpasar City, Bali Province, Indonesia, from August 2020 to January 2021. There was a total of 192 patients; 96 patients in the favipiravir group and 96 patients in the non-favipiravir group (remdesivir/oseltamivir). Effectivity was measured by assessing the clinical condition at the end of the isolation period of 14 days. The favipiravir group showed better clinical conditions than the non-favipiravir group (79.2% vs. 56.3%; aRR 2.196; 95% CI = 1.084 – 4.451, p=0.029), seen from being free of fever and respiratory problems. Stratification analysis demonstrated that the clinical improvement was significantly different in the severe/critical group in favor of favipiravir (RR 1,573; 95% CI = 1.139-2.172). The most common non-serious adverse events (AE) found in the use of favipiravir were gastrointestinal disturbances (12.5%). In conclusion, favipiravir is effective in severe/critical cases, and no serious adverse events were found in its use. Appropriate treatment is expected to help in reducing the public health burden.