Clinico-epidemiological Profiling and Treatment Response of Suspected Omicron-Infected COVID-19 Patients Attending Homeopathic Outpatient Departments Across India During Third Wave: A Data Collection Study

Background: The global surge in COVID-19 cases during the third wave, driven by the Omicron variant, spread to over 100 countries by December 2021. In India, homeopathy was widely used for prevention and treatment during the pandemic, with many patients consulting doctors at routine outpatient departments (OPDs) for care. A clinico-epidemiological study was conducted at homeopathic OPDs across India, assessing prescription patterns and treatment responses. Methods: A data collection study was undertaken at homeopathic OPDs in 25 cities (12 states). The sample comprised 947 COVID-19-positive participants aged between 2 and 92 years. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to estimate the association between demographic characteristics, vaccination status, previous COVID-19 history, and presence of symptoms. Participant data were also analyzed for response/clinical recovery by the seventh day, categorized by the treatment taken. Results: The clinical course of the disease was “mild”. Fever, cough, fatigue, myalgia, and headache were the major symptoms reported. The history of COVID-19 had 2.42 times higher odds (95% CI, 1.47–3.98) of having a sore throat and 1.83 times higher odds (95% CI, 1.15–2.93) of having a running nose, while vaccination showed lower odds for systemic symptoms like fever and fatigue. While 58.5% patients took only homeopathic treatment (H group), 41.4% consumed adjunctive allopathic medicines (H+A group). By the seventh day of treatment, 79.56% of patients recovered in the H group compared with 74.87% in the H+A group. Time to recovery was similar (H, 5.28 ± 0.086 days; 95% CI, 5.11–5.44); H+A, 5.45 ± 0.1 days; 95% CI, 5.24–5.65); p = 0.09. Arsenicum album and Bryonia alba were the most frequent prescriptions. Conclusion: During the third wave of COVID-19 in India, patients at homeopathic OPDs had mild disease, whether homeopathic treatment was taken alone or with allopathy.