Role of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose in Enhancing the Efficacy of Standard of Care for Moderate to Severe COVID-19: A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Outcomes

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the role of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (2-DG) in moderate to severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Methodology This study retrospectively analyzed the effects of 2-DG alongside Standard of Care (SOC) for moderate to severe COVID-19 in 150 patients. Eligible patients were aged 18-65, with confirmed COVID-19, who met clinical criteria for moderate or severe illness. Data collected included demographics, clinical status, treatment details, and outcomes, evaluated using the WHO's 10-point scale. The primary outcome measured was time to clinical improvement, with secondary outcomes including duration of oxygen supplementation, length of hospital stay, and viral clearance. Data analysis employed the Cox proportional hazard model, with significance at p < 0.05. Results In the study, initial oxygen saturation levels upon admission were similar between groups, averaging 92.6% in the 2-DG with SOC group and 91.8% in the SOC-only group (p = 0.97). The WHO ordinal scores, pulse, and respiratory rates improved significantly in the 2-DG group across multiple intervals. Oxygen supplementation needs to be decreased notably, with 2-DG patients requiring an average of 5.1 L/min by Day 5, showing significant reductions compared to the SOC group. The time to clinical improvement and length of hospital stay were also shorter in the 2-DG group (5.2 days vs. 7.5 days; 8.5 days vs. 10.5 days, respectively; p < 0.001). Adverse events were less frequent in the 2-DG group (6.7% vs. 13.3%, p = 0.03). Conclusion In conclusion, 2-DG demonstrates significant efficacy as an adjunct therapy for moderate to severe COVID-19, reducing both time to clinical improvement (5.2 vs. 7.5 days, p < 0.001) and hospital stay duration. Additionally, fewer adverse events were reported, and viral clearance rates were higher in the 2-DG group. These findings highlight 2-DG's potential to improve clinical outcomes in COVID-19 care.