Effects of Fuzheng Huayu Tablets on COVID-19

In December 2019, new coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) occurred in Wuhan, Hubei Province, which spread rapidly. Some of the patients developed into severe or critical illness. It became an international concerned public health emergencies and one of the major epidemics seriously endangering people's health and public safety after severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003.

At present, we lack the specific treatment for NCP. The anti- novel coronavirus drugs are been conducting in clinical trials, and the other options includes the symptomatic treatment. The pathological mechanism of the disease is not clear, but due to the continuous development of inflammation, some cases can become severe or critical, which threatening the life and health of patients. Intensive cases with obvious inflammation, after the control of acute symptoms and signs, often have the performance of pulmonary fibrosis, affecting the recovery of lung function. Therefore, actively reducing lung inflammation, controlling and reversing pulmonary fibrosis is of great significance for the life and health of patients Infected novel coronavirus.

Our previous study found that Fuzheng Huayu prescription can reduce the inflammation and fibrosis of the lung in the model rats, and improve the lung function of the patients with COPD. Therefore, we hope to take Fuzheng Huayu tablet to NCP patients, and observe whether it can reduce the lung inflammation of patients, so as to reduce the rate of progression of critical illness.

Inclusion criteria

Patients were included if they (1) had COVID-19; (2) were 18 to 65 years old; (3) did not participate in other drug clinical studies within 1 month before enrollment; and (4) voluntarily accepted treatment and signed an informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

Patients were excluded if they (1) had critical COVID-19; (2) were unconsciousness, had dementia, had psychiatric conditions, or were unable to communicate normally; (3) had severe cardiac insufficiency (i.e., cardiac function grade IV), severe liver or kidney disease, bronchial asthma, COPD, neurological disease, tumor, thoracic deformity, or immunodeficiency disease; (4) were pregnant or lactating or had a recent pregnancy plan; and (5) had a known allergy to any treatment drug.