Results
A total of 447 adult covid patients hospitalised in the COVID ward were included in the study between March 7 and July 8, 2020. Flow chart of the study was demonstrated as Figure-1 (Figure 1). None of the adverse effects related to QCB supplement was observed in participants.
The most common symptoms at presentation were fatigue (62.4), cough (61.1%), anorexia (57%), thirst (53.7%), respiratory distress (51%) and chills (48.3%; Table 1).
There was no significant difference in gender and age distribution between the standard treatment group and the standard treatment plus QCB group (p = 0.30; p = 0.19). In terms of comorbid diseases, the standard treatment plus QCB group had a significantly higher number of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and tuberculosis infection cases (p = 0.02; p = 0.07), though there was no significant difference in terms of other diseases. Both groups did not differ in terms of smoking (p = 0.34; Table 2). Pulmonary findings in the standard therapy plus QCB group were significantly more severe than in the standard therapy group (p = 0.04; Table 2). The proportion of patients with an oxygen saturation <93 mmHg at admission and/or follow-up was significantly higher in the group receiving standard therapy plus QCB (p = 0.021; Table 2). Nasopharyngeal swab SARS CoV2 PCR result was positive in 40-50% of cases for both groups (p = 0.84; Table 2).
The decrease in the levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin and ferritin were significantly higher in the group that received standard treatment plus QCB compared to the other group (Pcrp = 0.001; Pprocalcitonin = 0.004; Pferritin = 0.021; Table 3, Figure 2). Also, the increase in thrombocyte and lymphocyte count was significantly higher in the group receiving standard therapy plus QCB (Pplatelet = 0.009, Plymphocyte = 0.014; Table 3). It was found that the addition of QCB to the standard therapy/routine care did not reduce the risk of events during the service follow-up period (Omnibus tests of model coefficients p = 0.028, Hazard Ratio: 0.180, p = 0.094, (0.024–1.34); Table 4).
After adjustment for the conditions (CCT lung stage, oxygen saturation, favipiravir use, presence of comorbid chronic disease), similar results were observed between the groups (statistically significantly different values were persisted same as the previous). Therefore, QCB supplement found to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19.