Efficacy and Safety of Lianhua Qingke Tablets in the Treatment of Mild and Common-Type COVID-19: A Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter Clinical Study

Abstract

Background. Lianhua Qingke (LH) tablets is an effective traditional Chinese medicine against various viral infections, especially in relieving coughing. However, its effects on COVID-19 are unknown. Methods. To examine the therapeutic effectiveness of LH tablets in COVID-19 patients with mild and common types, a randomized, multicenter, controlled study was carried out. COVID-19 cases were randomized to undergo routine treatment with or without LH tablets (4 tablets, three times a day) for 14 days. The primary endpoints were the rate of achieving clinical symptom resolution and the corresponding time. Results. There were 144 participants in the full analysis set (72 each in the LH and control groups). The LH group participants had elevated symptom alleviation rate at 14 days compared with control cases (FAS: 98.61% vs. 84.72%,$p$ = 0.0026). In comparison with control group participants, the LH group participants had reduced median time to clinical symptom alleviation (median: 4 vs. 7 days,$p$ < 0.0001). Higher resolution rates of coughing (98.44% vs. 84.51%,$p$ = 0.0045) and expectoration (100% vs. 82.35%,$p$ = 0.0268) were observed in the LH group. Times to recovery of fever (median: 2 vs. 3 days,$p$ = 0.0007), coughing (median: 4 vs. 7 days,$p$ < 0.0001), and expectoration (median: 3 vs. 6 days,$p$ < 0.0001) were also notably shorter in the LH group. Moreover, the LH group had elevated improvement rates in chest computed tomography signs (FAS: 86.11% vs. 72.22%,$p$ = 0.0402) and clinical cure at day 28 (FAS: 83.33% vs. 68.06%,$p$ = 0.0326). However, no differences were found in the laboratory test and viral assay. Serious adverse events were not detected. Conclusion. These preliminary findings indicate LH tablets may be effective in symptomatic COVID-19, especially in relieving coughing. This trial was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100042069).