Standalone Ayurvedic treatment of high-risk COVID-19 patients with multiple co-morbidities: A case series

We report a case-series of Ayurvedic treatment in seven COVID-19 positive patients with multiple co-morbidities, categorized as high-risk for poor outcome from SARS-CoV-2 infection. All of them recovered completely from their illness with resolution of symptoms following Ayurvedic treatment. The data was collected from patients treated during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (June 2020 to September 2020) at an out-patient Ayurvedic Clinic, Chennai, India. This is a retrospective case series from among the initial 247 COVID-19 patients out of whom 39% were found to be suffering from co-morbidities. We have chosen seven of these patients who fulfilled the criteria for high-risk category, represented by multiple co-morbidities that included cancer, chronic kidney disease (CKD), coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and an elderly person over the age of 90 years. Classical Ayurvedic formulations for COVID -19 were chosen so as to avoid complicating co-morbid conditions and patients were maintained on a modified diet. All these high-risk patients were treated at an out-patient setting. The patients were under home quarantine and self-monitored their progress with daily follow-up over the phone by the treating Ayurvedic physician. The main outcome measure included resolution of symptoms and complete recovery from COVID-19 disease in all patients. This case series demonstrates the scope of Ayurvedic interventions in the management of high-risk COVID-19 patients with severe co-morbidities with successful outcome in an out-patient setting.