Cureus recently published a peer-reviewed study that showed the effectiveness of ivermectin in decreasing COVID-19 hospitalization among ivermectin users.[1]
Kerr et al. conducted the prospective observational study in Itajaí, Brazil, between July 7 and December 2, 2020.
A Prospective Observational Study is a study in which the actual (i.e., real-world) experiences of the groups being compared are prospectively observed, according to Law Insider.
The co-authors include Dr. Flavio A. Cadegiani and Dr. Pierre Kory of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance.
Itajaí has a dynamic population and a large port compared to the city. It is the first city in the state of Santa Catarina to have more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases in 2020.
At that time, the state of Santa Catarina in Southern Brazil offered a voluntary, medically prescribed program of ivermectin as prophylaxis for COVID-19.
Ivermectin prophylaxis was started because of the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, the inability to isolate port workers for COVID-19, the proven effectiveness of ivermectin against 20 other viruses, including SARS-CoV, the extensive safety profile and low cost.
Study Method
All of the study participants were free to decide if they would take ivermectin or not. All residents >18 years from the city of Itajaí were considered. Those who had COVID-19 before July 7, 2020, when the program was started, were excluded.
The study subjects were divided into non-users and users of ivermectin at 0.2 mg/kg/day for two consecutive days, every 15 days, for 150 days.
However, not all used ivermectin consistently. Thus the ivermectin users were divided into:
- Irregular users – took up to 60 mg of ivermectin in 150 days
- Regular users – used a total of 180 mg or more of ivermectin in 150 days
Follow-up was impressive. 100% of the population of Itajaí is digitalized in the government data system. Their COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations in public hospitals, and all deaths due to COVID-19 were strictly followed and recorded.
Results
COVID-19 infection rate was 49% lower for regular users (3.40%) than non-users (6.64%) (risk rate (RR): 0.51; 95% CI: 0.45-0.58; p < 0.0001), and 25% lower than irregular users (4.54%) (RR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.66-0.85; p < 0.0001).
The infection rate was 32% lower for irregular users than non-users (RR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.64-0.73; p < 0.0001).
Note: A p-value of 0.0001 means a real difference, not by chance. A Risk Rate of less than 1 means the probability of getting COVID-19 among users of ivermectin is much lower than those who did not.
Among COVID-19 participants, regular users were older and had a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension than irregular and non-users. Thus, one can assume that this group would have more deaths due to higher risks.
With Propensity Score Matching, all three study groups were matched based on age, gender, ethnicity, and medical history.
Comparison after Matching
The hospitalization rate was reduced by 100% in regular users compared to both irregular users and non-users (p < 0.0001), and reduced by 29% among irregular users compared to non-users (RR: 0.781; 95% CI: 0.49-1.05; p = 0.099).
Mortality rate was 92% lower in regular users than non-users (RR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.02-0.35; p = 0.0008) and 84% lower than irregular users (RR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.04-0.71; p = 0.016), while irregular users had a 37% lower mortality rate reduction than non-users (RR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.40-0.99; p = 0.049).
Risk of dying from COVID-19 was 86% lower among regular users than non-users (RR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.03-0.57; p = 0.006), and 72% lower than irregular users (RR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.07-1.18; p = 0.083), while irregular users had a 51% reduction compared to non-users (RR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.32-0.76; p = 0.001).
Risk of dying from COVID-19 between ivermectin non-users, regular users, and irregular users
Compared to non-users, the risk of dying from COVID-19 was 86% lower in regular users (RR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.03 – 0.57; p = 0.006) and 51% lower in irregular users (RR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.32 – 0.76; p = 0.001).
The risk of dying from COVID-19 was 72% lower in regular users than irregular users (RR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.07 – 1.18; p = 0.089).
The figure below illustrates the risk of dying from COVID-19 in each population.
The authors explained the two deaths in the regular user group but zero hospitalizations. It could be that the patients used a private hospital outside the city of Itajaí or in an institution that was not a hospital, or the patient or the family chose not to seek hospitalization.
Authors Summary
Regular use of ivermectin led to a 100% reduction in hospitalization rate, a 92% reduction in mortality rate, and an 86% reduction in the risk of dying from COVID-19 when compared to non-users.
Irregular use of ivermectin led to a 51% reduction in the risk of dying, a 29% reduction in hospitalization rate, and a 37% reduction in mortality rate from COVID-19.
Statistically significant reductions in hospitalization (100%) and mortality rates (84%), and risk of dying from COVID-19 (72%) were observed in regular users when compared to irregular users.
The reduction in COVID-19 infection rate occurred in a consistent and significant dose-dependent manner, with reductions of 49% and 32% in regular and irregular users, when compared to non-users.
The most striking evidence of ivermectin’s effectiveness was the 100% reduction in mortality for female regular users.
My Comment
The study by Kerr et al. measured the most meaningful end-points (i.e., hospitalization and mortality). In contrast, the remdesivir study used the time to recover in adults hospitalized with Covid-19.[2]
The same remdesivir study did not show how many died but instead showed the Kaplan-Meier mortality estimates (not real-world). They were 6.7% by day 15 and 11.4% by day 29.[2]
Serious adverse events were reported in 131 of the 532 patients who received remdesivir (24.6%).
I don’t tell people what to do but think about this. If you are a high risk for COVID-19, what would you choose?
Prophylactic ivermectin and zero hospitalizations or wait until you get hospitalized with COVID-19 and get remdesivir with a 24.6 chance of serious adverse effects?
Truth heals. Lies kill. Don’t Get Sick!
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Related:
- The many problems of the Ivermectin study in the NEJM
- City-wide use of Ivermectin lowered COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in Itajaí, Brazil
- What makes Ivermectin a kick-ass antiviral?
- Where to Get Ivermectin
- How to get Ivermectin
- Ivermectin is effective against Influenza and Cold Virus In Vitro
- Ivermectin vs Remdesivir for COVID-19
- Solved! The Ivermectin African Enigma
- IVMMETA.COM: A website of studies on Ivermectin’s efficacy
- Ivermectin is effective against Influenza and Cold Virus In Vitro
References:
- Kerr L, Baldi F, Lobo R, et al. (August 31, 2022) Regular Use of Ivermectin as Prophylaxis for COVID-19 Led Up to a 92% Reduction in COVID-19 Mortality Rate in a Dose-Response Manner: Results of a Prospective Observational Study of a Strictly Controlled Population of 88,012 Subjects. Cureus 14(8): e28624. doi:10.7759/cureus.28624
- Beigel JH, et al. Remdesivir for the Treatment of Covid-19 – Final Report. N Engl J Med. 2020 Nov 5;383(19):1813-1826. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2007764. Epub 2020 Oct 8. PMID: 32445440; PMCID: PMC7262788.
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