Abstract: research paper Submission date: 14/03/2021 Revision date: 24/03/2021 Acceptance date: 04/04/2021 Hydroxychloroquine and Tocilizumab in the Treatment of COVID-19: A Longitudinal Observational Study Ramírez-García, Guillermo1; García-Molina, Pablo2; Flor-Cremades, María Consuelo3; Muñoz-Rojas, Beatriz4; Moleón-Moya, Javier5 Master’s Degree in Anthropology and Forensic Genetics, University of Granada (UGR) Master’s Degree in Biotechnology, University of Granada (UGR) 3 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada (UGR) 4 Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada (UGR) 5 Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada (UGR) 1 2 Abstract Objectives The objective of this study is to evaluate the use of hydroxychloroquine and tocilizumab at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and to describe the profile of patients who received these treatments. Method The medical records of 403 patients admitted for COVID-19 from March 1 to April 15, 2020 at the San Cecilio University Hospital (Granada, Spain) were analyzed. The data collected included sex, age, days hospitalized, previous pathologies and/or treatments, possible outcomes and drugs administered at the hospital. Student’s t-test and Pearson’s chi-square tests were used as statistical parameters to estimate the possible associations between the defined variables. Results Patients with a mean age of 66 years (standard deviation = 15.38), were hospitalized for an average of 15 days (standard deviation = 12.89). The ICU admission rate was 9.93 %, and the death rate added up to 17.37 % of the total number of patients. During the first wave of the pandemic, hydroxychloroquine was administered to the majority of hospitalized patients, while tocilizumab was restricted to the more severe cases. Conclusions The results showed two distinct trends in the use of the drugs studied. Tocilizumab was administered to a small number of patients, mainly those with longer length of stay or with complications. Hydroxychloroquine was administered independently of the initial characteristics of patients, especially those who presented comorbidities or took multiple medications. Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, tocilizumab, hydroxychloroquine, hospitalization. Translated by: Asensi-Gómez, Paula6; Carbajo-García, Ana7; Cobano-Jiménez, Juan Luis8; Lenker-Andrade, Elisa9; VázquezDelgado, Iván9; Vivas-del-Torno, Elena6 Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Comillas Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University Jaume I (UJI) 8 Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, University of Alcalá (UAH) 9 Faculty of Translation and Interpreting, University of Granada (UGR) 6 7