Treatment Effect of Qingfei Paidu Decoction Combined With Conventional Treatment on COVID-19 Patients and Other Respiratory Diseases: A Multi-Center Retrospective Case Series

Xingyu Zong; Ning Liang; Jingya Wang; Huizhen Li; Dingyi Wang; Yaxin Chen; Haili Zhang; Liwen Jiao; An Li; Guihui Wu; Jike Li; Mingxuan Wang; Hongde Liu; Zhang Liu; Shusen Zhao; Jin Huang; Qiuhua Huang; Xiaoyan Wang; Jin Qin; Yan Ma; Yanping Wang; Nannan Shi

doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.849598

Treatment Effect of Qingfei Paidu Decoction Combined With Conventional Treatment on COVID-19 Patients and Other Respiratory Diseases: A Multi-Center Retrospective Case Series

Front Pharmacol. 2022 Jul 13:13:849598. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.849598. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Xingyu Zong¹, Ning Liang¹, Jingya Wang¹, Huizhen Li¹, Dingyi Wang¹, Yaxin Chen¹, Haili Zhang¹, Liwen Jiao¹, An Li¹, Guihui Wu², Jike Li², Mingxuan Wang³, Hongde Liu⁴, Zhang Liu⁵, Shusen Zhao⁶, Jin Huang⁷, Qiuhua Huang⁷, Xiaoyan Wang⁸, Jin Qin⁹, Yan Ma¹, Yanping Wang¹, Nannan Shi¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
² Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu, Chengdu, China.
³ Suining Central Hospital, Suining, China.
⁴ Shijiazhuang Fifth Hosipital, Shijiazhuang, China.
⁵ Suihua City First Hospital, Suihua, China.
⁶ Qiqihar Institute for The Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Qiqihar, China.
⁷ People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, China.
⁸ Jinzhong Infectious Disease Hospital, Jinzhong, China.
⁹ Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.

Abstract

Background: Qingfei Paidu decoction (QFPDD) has been widely used in treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China. However, studies on the treatment effect of COVID-19 patients and other respiratory diseases have not been well demonstrated. Our study aims to determine the treatment effect of QFPDD in combination with conventional treatment on COVID-19 patients and other respiratory diseases. Methods: This retrospective study recruited COVID-19 patients who were treated with QFPDD for at least two courses (6 days) from seven hospitals in five provinces from January 21 to March 18 2020. Demographic, epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, computed tomography characteristics, treatment, and outcome data were collected and analyzed. The improvements in clinical symptoms before and after QFPDD treatment were compared. Results: Eight COVID-19 patients were included in this study. Of them, six were males (75.0%). The median age of the patients was 66 (60-82) years. Four patients were classified as mild and moderate cases (50.0%); there were two severe cases (25.0%) and critical cases (25.0%). The most common symptom was cough (7 [87.5%]), followed by fever (6 [75.0%]), fatigue (4 [50.0%]), asthma (4 [50.0%]), and anorexia (3 [37.5%]). Abnormal findings included decrease in neutrophils (3 [37.5%]), lymphocytes (2 [25.0%]), alkaline phosphatase (3 [37.5%]), lactic dehydrogenase (4 [50.0%]), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (2 [25.0%]), and C-reactive protein (5 [83.3%]) at admission. After one course (3 days) of QFPDD, nasal obstruction and sore throat completely disappeared, and fever (5 [83.3%]), fatigue (2 [50.0%]), and cough (2 [28.6%]) were improved. After two courses (6 days), the fever disappeared completely in all patients, and the other symptoms showed a tendency to improve. In non-severe patients, 87.5% baseline symptoms completely disappeared. In severe patients, 61.1% of the baseline symptoms completely disappeared after patients were administered QFPDD for two courses. Of the abnormal indicators, 55.6% returned to normal levels. The median duration to complete fever recovery was 1.0 day. The median durations of viral shedding and hospitalization were 10.5 and 21.5 days, respectively. None of the patients worsened and died, and no serious adverse events occurred related to QFPDD during hospitalization. Conclusion: QFPDD combined with conventional treatment improved clinical symptoms in COVID-19 patients with other respiratory diseases, and no serious adverse reactions associated with QFPDD were observed. Larger sample studies confirm our findings in the future.

Keywords: COVID-19; Qingfei Paidu decoction; TCM; case series; respiratory diseases.