The impact of tocilizumab on respiratory support states transition and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients. A Markov model multi-state study.
Jovana MilicFederico BanchelliMarianna MeschiariErica FranceschiniGiacomo CiusaLicia GozziSara VolpiMatteo FaltoniGiacomo FranceschiVittorio IadiserniaDina YaacoubGiovanni DolciErica BaccaCarlotta RogatiMarco TutoneGiulia BurasteroAlessandro RaimondiMarianna MenozziGianluca CuomoLuca CorradiGabriella OrlandoAntonella SantoroMargherita DigaetanoCinzia PuzzolanteFederica CarliAndrea BediniStefano BusaniMassimo GirardisAndrea CossarizzaRossella MiglioCristina MussiniGiovanni GuaraldiRoberto D'AmicoPublished in: PloS one (2021)
To conclude, we were able to show the positive impact of tocilizumab used in different disease stages depicted by respiratory support states. The use of the multi-state Markov model allowed to harmonize the heterogeneous mortality and recovery endpoints and summarize results with stack probability plots. This approach could inform randomized clinical trials regarding tocilizumab, support disease management and hospital decision making.