## Remdesivir Doesn’t Elevate Kidney Risk in COVID-19 Patients, New Study Finds
A large, real-world data analysis offers reassurance regarding the renal safety of remdesivir, a widely used antiviral for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The retrospective study, published today, demonstrates no significant link between remdesivir use adn an increased risk of acute kidney injury or other renal adverse events in patients *without* pre-existing severe kidney problems.
The findings are especially relevant as healthcare professionals continue too navigate the long-term management of COVID-19 and evaluate the safety profiles of treatments. Concerns about potential kidney-related side effects have shadowed some antiviral medications, prompting the need for robust, real-world evidence. This study, analyzing data from thousands of patients, provides critical data for clinicians making treatment decisions and reinforces the continued viability of remdesivir as a safe option for eligible patients.
Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing linked electronic health records and claims data from Optum’s deidentified clinformatics® Data Mart Database. The study focused on hospitalized COVID-19 patients who did not have severe renal impairment and had received remdesivir. Each remdesivir user was matched with up to four non-users, carefully balanced based on hospitalization timing to minimize bias.The primary outcome assessed was the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) within 14 days of hospitalization. Researchers also examined a composite secondary outcome encompassing AKI, the need for renal replacement therapy, and death within the same timeframe – collectively termed renal adverse events (RAEs). Advanced statistical modeling, specifically marginal structural models, was employed to estimate the differences in risk and survival time between the two groups.
The analysis encompassed a matched cohort of 2768 remdesivir users and 3835 patients who did not receive the antiviral. Results revealed no statistically significant difference in the risk of AKI between the groups (risk difference: -2.44%, 95% confidence interval -8.06% to 3.13%). Similarly,no significant difference was observed in the risk of RAEs (risk difference: -0.71%, 95% CI -7.34% to 5.79%). Restricted mean survival time, a measure of time to event, also showed no significant disparities for either AKI (0.23 days,95% CI -0.22 to 0.68) or RAEs (0.13 days, 95% CI -0.40 to 0.67).
The study concludes that remdesivir use does not appear to increase or decrease the risk of renal adverse events in hospitalized COVID-19 patients without severe pre-existing kidney disease. This supports the continued clinical use of remdesivir as a safe antiviral treatment, without demonstrating any additional renal benefit. Keywords associated with the research include acute kidney injury,medication safety,real-world evidence,remdesivir,and renal adverse event.
