Treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia with low-dose radiotherapy plus standard of care versus standard of care alone in frail patients: The SEOR-GICOR IPACOVID comparative cohort trial

Identifier:  imarina:9295571

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9295571

Authors:  Arenas, M; Piqué, B; Torres-Royo, L; Acosta, JC; Rodríguez-Tomàs, E; De Febrer, G; Vasco, C; Araguas, P; Gómez, JA; Malave, B; Arquez, M; Algara, M; Montero, A; Montero, M; Simó, JM; Gabaldó, X; Parada, D; Riu, F; Sabater, S; Camps, J; Joven, J

Abstract:
Purpose: To assess the efficacy of lung low-dose radiotherapy (LD-RT) in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Materials and methods: Ambispective study with two cohorts to compare treatment with standard of care (SoC) plus a single dose of 0.5 Gy to the whole thorax (experimental prospective cohort) with SoC alone (control retrospective cohort) for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia not candidates for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) for mechanical ventilation. Results: Fifty patients treated with LD-RT were compared with 50 matched controls. Mean age was 85 years in both groups. An increase in arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (PAFI) in the experimental LD-RT-treated group compared to the control group could not be found at 48 h after LD-RT, which was the primary endpoint of the study. However, PAFI values significantly improved after 1 month (473 vs. 302 mm Hg; p < 0.0001). Pulse oxymetric saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen (SAFI) values were also significantly higher in LD-RT-treated patients than in control patients at 1 week (405 vs. 334 mm Hg; p = 0.0157) and 1 month after LD-RT (462 vs. 326 mm Hg; p < 0.0001). All other timepoint measurements of the respiratory parameters were similar across groups. Patients in the experimental group were discharged from the hospital significantly earlier (23 vs. 31 days; p = 0.047). Fifteen and 26 patients died due to COVID-19 pneumonia in the experimental and control cohorts, respectively (30% vs. 48%; p = 0.1). LD-RT was associated with a decreased odds ratio (OR) for 1‑month COVID-19 mortality (OR = 0.302 [0.106–0.859]; p = 0.025) when adjusted for potentially confounding factors. Overall survival was significantly prolonged in the LD-RT group compared to the control group (log-rank p = 0.027). No adverse events related to radiation treatment were observed. Conclusion: Treatment of frail patients with COVID-19 pneumonia with SoC plus single-dose LD-RT of 0.5 Gy improved respiratory parameters, reduced the period of hospitalization, decreased the rate of 1‑month mortality, and prolonged actuarial overall survival compared to SoC alone.