Bhattacharya, RajaMondal, MaitryNaiya, Subhendu BikashLyngdoh, LamsakaMukherjee, RishavSingh, Prabhat K.2020-11-182020-11-182020-10Bhattacharya Raja, Mondal Maitry, Naiya Subhendu Bikash, Lyngdoh Lamsaka, Mukherjee Rishav, Singh Prabhat K.. The beneficial role of N-acetylcysteine as an adjunctive drug in treatment of COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care hospital in India: an observational study. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences. 2020 Oct; 8(10): 3518-35222320-60712320-6012http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/212634Background: N-acetyl cysteine, a mucolytic agent, demonstrates free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties, and prevents endothelial dysfunction by inhibition of NF-KB and formation of no adducts. This has a potential role to tackle cytokine storms, endothelial dysfunction and prothrombotic state observed in COVID-19 manifestations like ARDS and Multi organ dysfunction.Methods: Institution based descriptive cross sectional study, 164 patients from laboratory confirmed RT PCR positive COVID-19 patients, in the study period from 27th May 2020 to 10th August 2020, were assessed, in medical college Kolkata, a dedicated COVID-19 care facility.Results: It was observed that moderate-severe patients who received N-acetyl cysteine along with standard therapy had average hospital stay duration of 12 days, higher rate of discharge, average duration of oxygen therapy of 8 days, less number of deaths and reduced transfer to critical care facilities.Conclusions: N-acetyl cysteine can be considered as an adjunctive therapy with standard protocol driven care, due to its beneficial anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging properties.COVID-19N-acetyl cysteineFree radical scavengerAnti-inflammatoryJournal ArticleIndiaDepartment of Medicine, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, IndiaMarwari Relief Society, Kolkata, West Bengal, India