Favipiravir for COVID-19 Pneumonia: Effectiveness, Safety, and Clinical Outcomes: A Retrospective Single-Center Experience

Background: Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, cause a range of respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, with COVID-19 becoming a global pandemic in 2020. Favipiravir, an antiviral drug, has shown promising results in reducing disease progression and improving recovery in COVID-19 patients. Methodology: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the efficacy, safety, and clinical outcomes of favipiravir in COVID-19 pneumonia patients admitted to the AFHSR. The analysis included patient characteristics, treatment responses, and laboratory parameters. Data were cleaned using Excel and analyzed with IBM SPSS version 29.0.0. Results: Our study included 297 COVID-19 pneumonia patients treated with favipiravir, with 129 (43.4%) females and 165 (55.6%) males with a mean age of 61.47 years. Comorbidities were present in 223 patients (75.1%), most commonly diabetes (N = 78, 33.6%) and hypertension (N = 72, 31.0%). Common symptoms were shortness of breath (N = 92, 31.0%), a cough (N = 86, 29.0%), and fever (N = 69, 23.3%). Complications occurred in 53 patients (17.8%), with acute kidney injury in 15 patients (5.1%). The overall mortality was 62 (20.9%), higher in those with comorbidities (75.7%, p = 0.017). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed worse survival for patients with comorbidities (p = 0.049) and smokers (p = 0.042). Elevated WBCs, LDH, AST, and CRP were linked to better survival (p < 0.05). Non-survivors had more severe respiratory impairment (FiO2, p = 0.035). Conclusions: Our study suggests favipiravir may help reduce ICU admissions and mortality in COVID-19 pneumonia patients, but outcomes are significantly influenced by age, comorbidities, and complications. This highlights the need for individualized treatment strategies. Further randomized controlled trials are essential to define favipiravir’s role in COVID-19 management.