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Review Article



Adverse events associated with COVID-19 treatment and its possible relationship with patient characteristics: A narrative review

Omar Yahya Al-Shargi, Samah Mukhlef Alzaid, Bodoor Saud Al-Dosari, Abeer Saad Alzubaidi.




Abstract
Cited by 1 Articles

The adverse events (AEs) of repurposed drugs used in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) bear a challenge in clinical practice, even though the safety profiles of these drugs are quite known for primary indications. Since it is a new virus, post-marketing surveillance of drugs’ safety is of utmost clinical significance. This review aimed to investigate the patterns, incidence, and frequency of AEs of COVID-19 medications and vaccines and to explore the relationship between the occurrence of AEs and characteristics of COVID-19 patients, such as age, gender, and comorbidities. A literature search was conducted on electronic databases like MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect for studies conducted on the AEs of drugs and vaccines used against COVID-19. The study found that prescription drugs for COVID-19 most commonly cause gastrointestinal symptoms, while some were associated with more severe liver, kidney, and cardiac manifestations. AEs varied among individuals, especially in elderly people with comorbidities. The known side effects of steroids and azithromycin including psychosis and prolongation of QT interval were also found to be prevalent when used in COVID-19 patients. Serious AEs such as multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and septic shock were commonly reported among patients who required invasive ventilation. AEs reports for newly formulated vaccines showed general safety with the majority being local complaints. The reported AEs ranged from mild to severe, including MODS. Factors such as old age and comorbidities were found to be risk factors for a higher potentiality of AEs. Further studies are needed to draw evidence-based conclusions.

Key words: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Adverse events






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