The effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine in alleviating clinical Symptoms of COVID-19 hospitalized patients at Santa Elisabeth Purwokerto General Hospital, Indonesia

Heny Ekowati; Faradina Qorina Nadzif; Masita Wulandari Suryoputri; Nialiana Endah Endriastuti; Hanif Nasiatul Baroroh

doi:10.20884/1.api.2023.11.1.7548

Heny Ekowati Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2894-6530
Faradina Qorina Nadzif Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1176-915X
Masita Wulandari Suryoputri Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9586-460X
Nialiana Endah Endriastuti Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3085-1650
Hanif Nasiatul Baroroh Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2199-6727

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20884/1.api.2023.11.1.7548

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has been associated with increased innate immune system activation, leading to increased mucus production, inflammation, and tissue damage. N-Acetylcystysteine (NAC), an antioxidant and mucolytic, has demonstrated potential as a COVID-19 therapy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of NAC on the clinical symptoms of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at Santa Elisabeth Purwokerto General Hospital in Indonesia.

Methods: An observational analytical study design was employed, with data collected from the medical records of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at Santa Elisabeth Purwokerto General Hospital over the period of July 2020 to July 2021. The study included 209 patients who met the eligibility criteria.

Results: The results indicated that the use of NAC affected the clinical symptoms of cough, oxygen saturation (SPO2), and respiratory rate in patients with mild and moderate degrees of COVID-19 patients (p<0.05). However, it was found not to affect patients with severe degrees of the disease (p>0.05).

Conclusion: This study suggests that NAC may be a useful treatment option for patients with mild and moderate COVID-19. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and determine their effectiveness in severe cases.