Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies have shown conflicting results on the efficacy of tocilizumab (TCZ) for patients with COVID-19, with many confounders of clinical status and limited duration of the observation. Here, we evaluate the real-world long-term efficacy of TCZ in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 using a large US-based multicenter COVID-19 database (Cerner Real-World Data; updated in September, 2020). The TCZ group was defined as patients who received at least one dose of the drug. Matching weight (MW) and a propensity score weighting method were used to balance confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 20,399 patients were identified. 1,510 and 18,899 were in the TCZ and control groups, respectively. After MW adjustment, no statistically significant differences in all-cause mortality were found for the TCZ vs. control group (Hazard Ratio [HR]:0.76, p=0.06). Survival curves suggested a better trend in short-term observation, driven from a subgroup of patients requiring oxygen masks, BIPAP or CPAP. CONCLUSION: We observed a temporal (early) benefit of TCZ, especially in patients on non-invasive high-flow supplemental oxygen. However, the benefit effects faded with longer observation. The long-term benefits and risks of TCZ should be carefully evaluated with follow-up studies.