Homeopathy as an adjuvant treatment for patients with COVID-19 Associated Pneumonia

INTERVENTION: HP3.040 The study is a two‐arm, open‐label, randomized clinical trial performed with homeopathic medicines in a public hospital in Brazil. In this country, homeopathy has been an official medical specialty since 1980 and has been available in the public health system since 2006, especially through the National Policy on Integrative and Complementary Practices. After randomization, participants were randomly allocated to a group that received standard hospital care plus adjuvant homeopathic treatment (AH) or to another group that received standard hospital care (ST) only. Among the homeopathic remedies used were: Arsenicum album (Ars); Phosphorus (Phos), Bryonia alba (Bry), Camphora (Camph), China officinalis (Chin), Lachesis muta (Lach), Carbo vegetabilis (Carb‐v), Suphur (Sulph), Kalium carbonicum (Kali‐c), Veratrum album (Verat), Nux vomica (Nux‐v), Lycopodium clavatum (Lyc), Rhus toxicodendron (Rhus‐t), Pulsatilla nigricans (Puls), Natrum muriaticum (Nat‐m) and Belladonna (Bell); and prescribed at 30cH or 200cH potency.10 We also used a combination of Arsenicum 12cH/Ferrum phosphoricum 6cH/Bryonia 30cH/China officinalis 30cH. The homeopathic medicines were prepared according to the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia. The time of use varied between 2‐10 days according to need and clinical evolution. The medication was administered every 2, 4 or 6 hours, according to the doctor's prescription. The study initially aimed to recruit 300 participants (AH group = 150 and ST group = 150). However, 102 participants were recruited, of which 50 patients received adjuvant homeopathic treatment, 14 patients received more than one of those described above, and 52 patients participated in the control group receiving standard hospital care. CONDITION: C01.748.214 Pneumonia PRIMARY OUTCOME: Evaluate whether the homeopathic intervention reduces or does not change the indication for admission to an intensive care unit, having as relevant variables gender; age; comorbidities; need for oxygen therapy and length of stay. SECONDARY OUTCOME: To assess whether homeopathic intervention alters the length of stay of patients admitted to the hospital. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Both genders; age between 20 and 70 years; positive test for SARS‐CoV‐2 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or rapid antigen test; pneumonia, diagnosed according to clinical criteria, with or without imaging confirmation (plain radiographs, computed tomography angiography); Indication of hospital admission; no clinical condition that impairs verbal communication; homeopathy interview within 24 hours of admission.