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Singh S, Sinha N, Lohani P, Agarwal N, Singh P, Singh CM. Impact of Remdesivir on inflammatory and prognostic markers of COVID-19: Findings of an event-monitoring study. J Family Med Prim Care 2023; 12:3135-3141. [PMID: 38361897 PMCID: PMC10866280 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_334_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Remdesivir is currently approved for treating hospitalised patients with COVID-19. However, it is a priority to monitor its safety and effectiveness in various clinical settings. This study was undertaken to assess the impact of remdesivir on inflammatory and prognostic markers of COVID-19. Materials and Methods A hospital-based prospective longitudinal study was conducted over two months comprising event monitoring of COVID-19 patients administered remdesivir as per standard guidelines. The demographic details, risk factors and all baseline parameters were collected. The patients were followed up for the appearance of any adverse drug reactions (ADRs) after the start of remdesivir therapy from Day 1 to discharge or death every day. Repeat Lab tests were done on days 2, 4, 6 and 10 days to assess the impact of remdesivir on inflammatory and prognostic markers of COVID-19 over time. Significant predictors of survival in the cohort were also assessed. Results A total of 60 COVID-19 patients were administered remdesivir. The mean age of the patients was 59.2 (+13.7) years. There was a significant improvement in the serum creatinine (decreased from 0.9 to 0.7 mg/dL), lymphocyte count {decreased from 9.2 to 7.3 (109 cells/L)} and serum sodium (increased from 134.6 to 137.4) of the patients over six days after the administration of remdesivir. The significant survival predictors were multiple organ failure (P 0.046) and WBC count on Day 10 (P 0.001). Conclusion Remdesivir administration improved the prognostic biomarker profile in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Nishi Sinha
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Pallavi Lohani
- Department of Community Medicine, HI-TECH Medical College, Rourkela, Orissa, India
| | - Neha Agarwal
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Pratibha Singh
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Maharshi Devraha Baba State Autonomous Medical College, Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - CM Singh
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India
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DE Vito A, Saderi L, Fiore V, Geremia N, Princic E, Fanelli C, Muredda AA, Panu Napodano C, Moi G, Maida I, Fois AG, Sotgiu G, Madeddu G, Babudieri S. Early treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin reduces mortality rate in SARS-CoV-2 patients. Panminerva Med 2023; 65:286-291. [PMID: 35622392 DOI: 10.23736/s0031-0808.22.04572-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, millions of people have been infected and died. Different therapeutic approaches have been recommended, but only a few have shown clinical advantages. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) has been recommended to prevent COVID-19-related thrombo-embolic events. We aimed to evaluate the impact of early treatment with LMWH on hospital admission and death in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS We conducted an observational monocentric retrospective study to evaluate the preventive role of LMWH on the mortality rate of COVID-19 patients. SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were recruited from the beginning of the Italian epidemic to March 31, 2021. We excluded patients with missing data and those chronically exposed to LMWH. Treatment prescription was based on international and national guidelines and modified depending on clinical presentation and drug-drug interactions. RESULTS Seven hundred thirty-four SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were recruited, with 357 (48.6%) males and a median (IQR) age of 77.9 (65-85.7) years. 77.5% of people developed SARS-CoV-2-related symptoms and 62.8% were admitted to the hospital, and 20.2% died. Four hundred ninety-two (67%) started LMWH. In particular, 296 (40.3%) were treated within five days since symptoms onset. At logistic regression, early LMWH therapy was associated with lower mortality. Furthermore, remdesivir treatment showed a lower risk of death. On the contrary, age, BMI>30 kg/m2, neurological diseases, fever or dyspnea were associated with an increased risk of death. CONCLUSIONS Early treatment with LMWH was associated with lower mortality in our cohort. Further studies are needed to better assess the role of wider LMWH administration in terms of timing and regimen dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea DE Vito
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy -
| | - Laura Saderi
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Vito Fiore
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Nicholas Geremia
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Elija Princic
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Chiara Fanelli
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Alberto A Muredda
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Catello Panu Napodano
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Giulia Moi
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Ivana Maida
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Alessandro G Fois
- Unit of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Sotgiu
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Giordano Madeddu
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Sergio Babudieri
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
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Luo J, Chen Z, Liu D, Li H, He S, Zeng L, Yang M, Liu Z, Xiao X, Zhang L. Methodological quality and reporting quality of COVID-19 living systematic review: a cross-sectional study. BMC Med Res Methodol 2023; 23:175. [PMID: 37525117 PMCID: PMC10388517 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-023-01980-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The main objective of this study is to evaluate the methodological quality and reporting quality of living systematic reviews (LSRs) on Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), while the secondary objective is to investigate potential factors that may influence the overall quality of COVID-19 LSRs. METHODS Six representative databases, including Medline, Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), Cochrane Library, China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, and China Science, Technology Journal Database (VIP) were systematically searched for COVID-19 LSRs. Two authors independently screened articles, extracted data, and then assessed the methodological and reporting quality of COVID-19 LSRs using the "A Measurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews-2" (AMSTAR-2) tool and "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA) 2020 statement, respectively. Univariate linear regression and multivariate linear regression were used to explore eight potential factors that might affect the methodological quality and reporting quality of COVID-19 LSRs. RESULTS A total of 64 COVID-19 LSRs were included. The AMSTAR-2 evaluation results revealed that the number of "yes" responses for each COVID-19 LSR was 13 ± 2.68 (mean ± standard deviation). Among them, 21.9% COVID-19 LSRs were rated as "high", 4.7% as "moderate", 23.4% as "low", and 50% as "critically low". The evaluation results of the PRISMA 2020 statement showed that the sections with poor adherence were methods, results and other information. The number of "yes" responses for each COVID-19 LSR was 21 ± 4.18 (mean ± standard deviation). The number of included studies and registration are associated with better methodological quality; the number of included studies and funding are associated with better reporting quality. CONCLUSIONS Improvement is needed in the methodological and reporting quality of COVID-19 LSRs. Researchers conducting COVID-19 LSRs should take note of the quality-related factors identified in this study to generate evidence-based evidence of higher quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiefeng Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research On Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhe Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research On Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research On Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hailong Li
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research On Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Siyi He
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research On Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Linan Zeng
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research On Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengting Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research On Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research On Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xue Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Lingli Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research On Drug Products In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, China.
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Stanford V, Gresh L, Toledo J, Méndez J, Aldighieri S, Reveiz L. Evidence in decision-making in the context of COVID-19 in Latin America. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH - AMERICAS 2022; 14:100322. [PMID: 35879980 PMCID: PMC9299752 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2022.100322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Background The pace of the COVID-19 pandemic poses an unprecedented challenge to the evidence-to-decision process. Latin American countries have responded to COVID-19 by introducing interventions to both mitigate the risk of infection and to treat cases. Understanding how evidence is used to inform government-level decision-making at a national scale is crucial for informing country and regional actors in ongoing response efforts. Objectives This study was undertaken between February-May 2021 and aims to characterise the best available evidence (BAE) and assess the extent to which it was used to inform decision-making in 21 Latin American countries, in relation to pharmaceutical (PI) and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) related to COVID-19, including the use of therapeutics (corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine and ivermectin), facemask use in the community setting and the use of diagnostic tests as a requirement for international travel. Method A three-phase methodology was used to; (i) characterise the BAE for each intervention using an umbrella review, (ii) identify government-level decisions for each intervention through a document review and (iii) assess the use of evidence to inform decisions using a novel adapted framework analysis. Findings The BAE is characterized by 17 living and non-living systematic reviews as evolving, and particularly uncertain for NPIs. 107 country-level documents show variation in both content and timing of decision outcomes across intervention types, with the majority of decisions taken at a time of evidence uncertainty, with only 5 documents including BAE. Seven out of eight key indicators of an evidence-to-decision process were identified more frequently among PIs than either NPI of facemask use or testing prior to travel. Overall evidence use was reported more frequently among PIs than either NPI of facemask use or travel testing (92%, 28% and 29%, respectively). Interpretation There are limitations in the extent to which evidence use in decision-making is reported across the Latin America region. Institutionalising this process and grounding it in existing and emerging methodologies can facilitate the rapid response in an emergency setting. Funding No funding was sourced for this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Stanford
- Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health Department, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Lionel Gresh
- Incident Management System for the Covid-19 Response. Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Health Emergencies, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Joao Toledo
- Incident Management System for the Covid-19 Response. Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Health Emergencies, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jairo Méndez
- Incident Management System for the Covid-19 Response. Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Health Emergencies, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Sylvain Aldighieri
- Incident Management System for the Covid-19 Response. Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Health Emergencies, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ludovic Reveiz
- Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health Department, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
- Incident Management System for the Covid-19 Response. Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, USA
- Corresponding author at: Pan American Health Organization, 525 23rd St, NW, Washington DC 20037-2895, USA.
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Di Stefano L, Ogburn EL, Ram M, Scharfstein DO, Li T, Khanal P, Baksh SN, McBee N, Gruber J, Gildea MR, Clark MR, Goldenberg NA, Bennani Y, Brown SM, Buckel WR, Clement ME, Mulligan MJ, O’Halloran JA, Rauseo AM, Self WH, Semler MW, Seto T, Stout JE, Ulrich RJ, Victory J, Bierer BE, Hanley DF, Freilich D. Hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19: An individual participant data meta-analysis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273526. [PMID: 36173983 PMCID: PMC9521809 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Results from observational studies and randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have led to the consensus that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) are not effective for COVID-19 prevention or treatment. Pooling individual participant data, including unanalyzed data from trials terminated early, enables more detailed investigation of the efficacy and safety of HCQ/CQ among subgroups of hospitalized patients. METHODS We searched ClinicalTrials.gov in May and June 2020 for US-based RCTs evaluating HCQ/CQ in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in which the outcomes defined in this study were recorded or could be extrapolated. The primary outcome was a 7-point ordinal scale measured between day 28 and 35 post enrollment; comparisons used proportional odds ratios. Harmonized de-identified data were collected via a common template spreadsheet sent to each principal investigator. The data were analyzed by fitting a prespecified Bayesian ordinal regression model and standardizing the resulting predictions. RESULTS Eight of 19 trials met eligibility criteria and agreed to participate. Patient-level data were available from 770 participants (412 HCQ/CQ vs 358 control). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. We did not find evidence of a difference in COVID-19 ordinal scores between days 28 and 35 post-enrollment in the pooled patient population (odds ratio, 0.97; 95% credible interval, 0.76-1.24; higher favors HCQ/CQ), and found no convincing evidence of meaningful treatment effect heterogeneity among prespecified subgroups. Adverse event and serious adverse event rates were numerically higher with HCQ/CQ vs control (0.39 vs 0.29 and 0.13 vs 0.09 per patient, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The findings of this individual participant data meta-analysis reinforce those of individual RCTs that HCQ/CQ is not efficacious for treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Di Stefano
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth L. Ogburn
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Malathi Ram
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Daniel O. Scharfstein
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Tianjing Li
- University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Preeti Khanal
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sheriza N. Baksh
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nichol McBee
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joshua Gruber
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Marianne R. Gildea
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Megan R. Clark
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Neil A. Goldenberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Johns Hopkins All Children’s Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
| | - Yussef Bennani
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- University Medical Center, New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Samuel M. Brown
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, Utah, United States of America
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Whitney R. Buckel
- Pharmacy Services, Intermountain Healthcare, Murray, Utah, United States of America
| | - Meredith E. Clement
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- University Medical Center, New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Mark J. Mulligan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- Vaccine Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Jane A. O’Halloran
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Adriana M. Rauseo
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Wesley H. Self
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Matthew W. Semler
- Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Todd Seto
- Department of Medicine, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Jason E. Stout
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Robert J. Ulrich
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Victory
- Bassett Research Institute, Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, New York, United States of America
| | - Barbara E. Bierer
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Daniel F. Hanley
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Daniel Freilich
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, New York, United States of America
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Mohseni M, Ameri H, Arab-Zozani M. Potential limitations in systematic review studies assessing the effect of the main intervention for treatment/therapy of COVID-19 patients: An overview. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:966632. [PMID: 36203750 PMCID: PMC9531544 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.966632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although several studies have assessed the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of interventions in treating the COVID-19, many of them have limitations that can have an immense impact on their results. This study aims to assess the potential limitations in systematic reviews (SRs) that evaluate the effect of interventions on the treatment of the COVID-19. Methods PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences (WOS) databases were searched from inception to January 1, 2022. All systematic reviews investigated the effectiveness, efficacy, safety, and outcome of the main intervention (Favipiravir, Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin, Lopinavir/Ritonavir, or Tocilizumab) for the treatment of COVID-19 patients and reported the potential limitations of the included studies. We assessed the quality of the included studies using the Quality Assessment Tool (QAT) for review articles. We conducted a content analysis and prepared a narrative summary of the limitations. Results Forty-six studies were included in this review. Ninety one percent of the included studies scored as strong quality and the remaining (9%) as moderate quality. Only 29.7% of the included systematic reviews have a registered protocol. 26% of the included studies mentioned a funding statement. The main limitations of the included studies were categorized in 10 domains: sample size, heterogeneity, follow-up, treatment, including studies, design, definitions, synthesis, quality, and search. Conclusion Various limitations have been reported in all the included studies. Indeed, the existence of limitations in studies can affect their results, therefore, identifying these limitations can help researchers design better studies. As a result, stronger studies with more reliable results will be reported and disseminated. Further research on COVID-19 SRs is essential to improve research quality and also, efficiency among scientists across the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Mohseni
- Knowledge Utilization Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hosein Ameri
- Health Policy and Management Research Center, Department of Health Management and Economics, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Morteza Arab-Zozani
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
- *Correspondence: Morteza Arab-Zozani, ; orcid.org/0000-0001-7223-6707
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Di Stefano L, Ogburn EL, Ram M, Scharfstein DO, Li T, Khanal P, Baksh SN, McBee N, Gruber J, Gildea MR, Clark MR, Goldenberg NA, Bennani Y, Brown SM, Buckel WR, Clement ME, Mulligan MJ, O’Halloran JA, Rauseo AM, Self WH, Semler MW, Seto T, Stout JE, Ulrich RJ, Victory J, Bierer BE, Hanley DF, Freilich D. Hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19: An individual participant data meta-analysis. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2022:2022.01.10.22269008. [PMID: 35043124 PMCID: PMC8764733 DOI: 10.1101/2022.01.10.22269008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Background Results from observational studies and randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have led to the consensus that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) are not effective for COVID-19 prevention or treatment. Pooling individual participant data, including unanalyzed data from trials terminated early, enables more detailed investigation of the efficacy and safety of HCQ/CQ among subgroups of hospitalized patients. Methods We searched ClinicalTrials.gov in May and June 2020 for US-based RCTs evaluating HCQ/CQ in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in which the outcomes defined in this study were recorded or could be extrapolated. The primary outcome was a 7-point ordinal scale measured between day 28 and 35 post enrollment; comparisons used proportional odds ratios. Harmonized de-identified data were collected via a common template spreadsheet sent to each principal investigator. The data were analyzed by fitting a prespecified Bayesian ordinal regression model and standardizing the resulting predictions. Results Eight of 19 trials met eligibility criteria and agreed to participate. Patient-level data were available from 770 participants (412 HCQ/CQ vs 358 control). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. We did not find evidence of a difference in COVID-19 ordinal scores between days 28 and 35 post-enrollment in the pooled patient population (odds ratio, 0.97; 95% credible interval, 0.76-1.24; higher favors HCQ/CQ), and found no convincing evidence of meaningful treatment effect heterogeneity among prespecified subgroups. Adverse event and serious adverse event rates were numerically higher with HCQ/CQ vs control (0.39 vs 0.29 and 0.13 vs 0.09 per patient, respectively). Conclusions The findings of this individual participant data meta-analysis reinforce those of individual RCTs that HCQ/CQ is not efficacious for treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Di Stefano
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Elizabeth L. Ogburn
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Malathi Ram
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Daniel O. Scharfstein
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Tianjing Li
- University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, Colorado
| | - Preeti Khanal
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sheriza N. Baksh
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nichol McBee
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Joshua Gruber
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Marianne R. Gildea
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Current address: FHI 360, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Megan R. Clark
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Neil A. Goldenberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Johns Hopkins All Children’s Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Florida
| | - Yussef Bennani
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
- University Medical Center, New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Samuel M. Brown
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Intermountain Medical Center, Murray, Utah
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | | | - Meredith E. Clement
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
- University Medical Center, New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Mark J. Mulligan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
- Vaccine Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Jane A. O’Halloran
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Adriana M. Rauseo
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Wesley H. Self
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Matthew W. Semler
- Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Todd Seto
- Department of Medicine, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii
| | - Jason E. Stout
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Robert J. Ulrich
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Jennifer Victory
- Bassett Research Institute, Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, New York
| | - Barbara E. Bierer
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Daniel F. Hanley
- Division of Brain Injury Outcomes, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Daniel Freilich
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, New York
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8
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Chen Z, Luo J, Li S, Xu P, Zeng L, Yu Q, Zhang L. Characteristics of Living Systematic Review for COVID-19. Clin Epidemiol 2022; 14:925-935. [PMID: 35958161 PMCID: PMC9359410 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s367339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The systematic review aims to analyze and summarize the characteristics of living systematic review (LSR) for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods Six databases including Medline, Excerpta Medica (Embase), Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database and China Science, and Technology Journal Database (VIP), were searched as the source of basic information and methodology of LSR. Descriptive analytical methods were used to analyze the included COVID-19 LSRs, and the study characteristics of COVID-19 LSRs were further assessed. Results Sixty-four COVID-19 LSRs were included. Eighty-nine point one percent of LSRs were published on Science Citation Index (SCI) journals, and 64.1% publication with an impact factor (IF) >5 and 17.2% with an IF >15 among SCI journals. The first unit of the published LSRs for COVID-19 came from 19 countries, with the largest contribution from the UK (17.2%, 11/64). Forty point six percent of LSRs for COVID-19 were related to therapeutics topic which was considered the most concerned perspective for LSRs for COVID-19. Seventy-six point six percent of LSRs focused on the general population, with less attention to children, pregnant women and the elderly. However, the LSR for COVID-19 was reported incomplete on “living” process, including 40.6% of studies without search frequency, 79.7% of studies without screening frequency, 20.3% of studies without update frequency, and 65.6% of studies without the timing or criteria of transitioning LSR out of living mode. Conclusion Although researchers in many countries have applied LSRs to COVID-19, most of the LSRs for COVID-19 were incomplete in reporting on the “living” process and less focused on special populations. This could reduce the confidence of health-care providers and policy makers in the results of COVID-19 LSR, thereby hindering the translation of evidence on COVID-19 LSR into clinical practice. It was necessary to explicitly enact preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) to improve the reporting quality of LSR and support ongoing efforts of therapeutics research for special patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research on Drug Products in Vitro and in Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiefeng Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research on Drug Products in Vitro and in Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Siyu Li
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research on Drug Products in Vitro and in Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Peipei Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research on Drug Products in Vitro and in Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Linan Zeng
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research on Drug Products in Vitro and in Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- National Drug Clinical Trial Institute, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Qin Yu, Email
| | - Lingli Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Evidence-Based Pharmacy Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Technical Research on Drug Products in Vitro and in Vivo Correlation, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Lingli Zhang, Email
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9
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Szabó M, Kardos Z, Oláh C, Tamáska P, Hodosi K, Csánky E, Szekanecz Z. Severity and prognostic factors of SARS-CoV-2-induced pneumonia: The value of clinical and laboratory biomarkers and the A-DROP score. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:920016. [PMID: 35935801 PMCID: PMC9353138 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.920016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Numerous clinical and laboratory scores that include C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), interleukin 6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine levels and oxygenation (PaO2 and SaO2) have been used for the prognosis of COVID-19. In addition, composite scores have been developed for the assessment of general state and risk in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) that may be applied for COVID-19 as well. In this study, we assessed severity and potential prognostic risk factors for unfavorable outcome among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We also applied the A-DROP general scoring system used in CAP to COVID-19. Patients and methods Altogether 233 patients admitted to our center with COVID-19 were included in the study. Clinical status, several laboratory biomarkers described above, indicators of oxygenation were determined at hospital admission. We also applied the A-DROP composite scoring system that includes Age (≥ 70 years in males and ≥ 75 years in females), Dehydration (BUN ≥ 7.5 mmol/l), Respiratory failure (SaO2 ≤ 90% or PaO2 ≤ 60 mmHg), Orientation disturbance (confusion) and low blood Pressure (systolic BP ≤ 90 mmHg) to COVID-19. Results At the time of admission, most patients had elevated CRP, LDH, ferritin, D-dimer, and IL-6 levels indicating multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (MIS). Altogether 49 patients (21.2%) required admission to ICU, 46 (19.7%) needed ventilation and 40 patients (17.2%) died. In the binary analysis, admission to ICU, the need for ventilation and death were all significantly associated with the duration of hospitalization, history of hypertension or obesity, confusion/dizziness, as well as higher absolute leukocyte and neutrophil and lower lymphocyte counts, elevated CRP, PCT, LDH, ferritin, IL-6, BUN, and creatinine levels, low PaO2 and SaO2 and higher A-DROP score at the time of admission (p < 0.05). Conclusion Numerous laboratory biomarkers in addition to obesity, dizziness at the time of admission and the history of hypertension may predict the need for ICU admission and ventilation, as well as mortality in COVID-19. Moreover, A-DROP may be a suitable scoring system for the assessment of general health and disease outcome in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miklós Szabó
- Department of Pulmonology, Borsod Academic County Hospital, Miskolc, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Kardos
- Department of Rheumatology, Borsod Academic County Hospital, Miskolc, Hungary
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Miskolc, Miskolc, Hungary
| | - Csaba Oláh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Borsod Academic County Hospital, Miskolc, Hungary
| | - Péter Tamáska
- Department of Radiology, Borsod Academic County Hospital, Miskolc, Hungary
| | - Katalin Hodosi
- Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Eszter Csánky
- Department of Pulmonology, Borsod Academic County Hospital, Miskolc, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Szekanecz
- Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- *Correspondence: Zoltán Szekanecz,
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10
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Halabi S, Zhou J, He Y, Bressler LR, Hernandez AF, Turner NA, Hong H. Landscape of coronavirus disease 2019 clinical trials: New frontiers and challenges. Clin Trials 2022; 19:561-572. [PMID: 35786000 DOI: 10.1177/17407745221105106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM The number of coronavirus disease 2019 deaths and cases continues to increase globally. Novel therapies are urgently needed to treat patients with coronavirus disease 2019. We sought to provide a critical review of trials designed during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Our primary goal was to provide a critical review of the landscape of clinical trials designed to address the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Specifically, we were interested in assessing the design of phase II/III and phase III interventional trials. METHODS We utilized the ClinicalTrials.gov database to include trials registered between 1 December 2019 and 11 April 2021 to survey the current landscape of clinical trials for coronavirus disease 2019. Variables extracted included: National Clinical Trial number, title, location, sponsor, study type, start date, completion date, gender group, age group, primary outcome, secondary outcome, overall status, and associated references. RESULTS About 57% of studies were interventional, 14.5% were phase III trials, and the majority of the therapeutic trials included hospitalized patients. There were 52 primary composite outcomes and 285 unique interventions spanning 10 drug classes. The outcomes, disease severity, and comparators varied substantially across trials, and the trials were often too small to be definitive. CONCLUSION These findings are relevant as we strongly advocate for global coordination of efforts through the use of common platforms that enable harmonizing of endpoints, collection of common key variables and clear definition of disease severity to have clinically meaningful results from clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Halabi
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA.,Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jinyi Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yijie He
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Nicholas A Turner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Hwanhee Hong
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA.,Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke Health, Durham, NC, USA
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11
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Riberholt CG, Olsen MH, Milan JB, Gluud C. Major mistakes and errors in the use of Trial Sequential Analysis in systematic reviews or meta-analyses - protocol for a systematic review. Syst Rev 2022; 11:114. [PMID: 35659769 PMCID: PMC9166392 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-022-01987-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adequately conducted systematic reviews with meta-analyses are considered the highest level of evidence and thus directly defines many clinical guidelines. However, the risks of type I and II errors in meta-analyses are substantial. Trial Sequential Analysis is a method for controlling these risks. Erroneous use of the method might lead to research waste or misleading conclusions. METHODS The current protocol describes a systematic review aimed to identify common and major mistakes and errors in the use of Trial Sequential Analysis by evaluating published systematic reviews and meta-analyses that include this method. We plan to include all studies using Trial Sequential Analysis published from January 2018 to January 2022, an estimated 400 to 600 publications. We will search Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, including studies with all types of participants, interventions, and outcomes. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts, include relevant full text articles, extract data from the studies into a predefined checklist, and evaluate the methodological quality of the study using the AMSTAR 2, assessing the methodological quality of the systematic reviews. DISCUSSION This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P). The identified mistakes and errors will be published in peer reviewed articles and form the basis of a reviewed guideline for the use of Trial Sequential Analysis. Appropriately controlling for type I and II errors might reduce research waste and improve quality and precision of the evidence that clinical guidelines are based upon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Gunge Riberholt
- Department of Neurorehabilitation, Traumatic Brain Injury, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Kettegård Alle 30, 2650, Hvidovre, Denmark.
| | - Markus Harboe Olsen
- Department of Neuroanaesthesiology, Neuroscience Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joachim Birch Milan
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Gluud
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
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12
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Kirkham AM, Monaghan M, Bailey AJ, Shorr R, Lalu MM, Fergusson DA, Allan DS. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell-based therapies for COVID-19: First iteration of a living systematic review and meta-analysis: MSCs and COVID-19. Cytotherapy 2022; 24:639-649. [PMID: 35219584 PMCID: PMC8802614 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and their secreted products are a promising therapy for COVID-19 given their immunomodulatory and tissue repair capabilities. Many small studies were launched at the onset of the pandemic, and repeated meta-analysis is critical to obtain timely and sufficient statistical power to determine efficacy. METHODS AND FINDINGS All English-language published studies identified in our systematic search (up to February 3, 2021) examining the use of MSC-derived products to treat patients with COVID-19 were identified. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed for all studies. Nine studies were identified (189 patients), four of which were controlled (93 patients). Three of the controlled studies reported on mortality (primary analysis) and were pooled through random-effects meta-analysis. MSCs decreased the risk of death at study endpoint compared with controls (risk ratio, 0.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04 to 0.74; P = .02; I2 = 0%), although follow-up differed. Among secondary outcomes, interleukin-6 levels were most commonly reported and were decreased compared with controls (standardized mean difference, -0.69; 95% CI, -1.15 to -0.22; P = .004; I2 = 0%) (n = 3 studies). Other outcomes were not reported consistently, and pooled estimates of effect were not performed. Substantial heterogeneity was observed between studies in terms of study design. Adherence to published ISCT criteria for MSC characterization was low. In two of nine studies, RoB analysis revealed a low to moderate risk of bias in controlled studies, and uncontrolled case series were of good (3 studies) or fair (2 studies) quality. CONCLUSION Use of MSCs to treat COVID-19 appears promising; however, few studies were identified, and potential risk of bias was detected in all studies. More controlled studies that report uniform clinical outcomes and use MSC products that meet standard ISCT criteria should be performed. Future iterations of our systematic search should refine estimates of efficacy and clarify potential adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan M. Kirkham
- Departments of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Madeline Monaghan
- Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Adrian J.M. Bailey
- Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Risa Shorr
- Medical Information and Learning Services, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Manoj M. Lalu
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Regenerative Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Departments Anesthesia, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Dean A. Fergusson
- Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - David S. Allan
- Departments of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Regenerative Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada,Corresponding Author: Dr. David Allan, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Rd, Box 704 Ottawa ON K1H 8L6, Canada, Fax +1 613-737-8861
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13
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Remdesivir: an overview of patenting trends, clinical evidence on COVID-19 treatment, pharmacology and chemistry. Pharm Pat Anal 2022; 11:57-73. [DOI: 10.4155/ppa-2021-0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
By December 2021, the COVID-19 caused approximately 6.1 million deaths around the world. Several vaccines have been approved, but there is still a need for non-prophylactic treatments for COVID-19. Remdesivir is an antiviral drug approved for emergency use against COVID-19 in several countries, but one of the first clinical trials was inconclusive about the mortality reduction, although the drug showed a reduction in the recovery time of hospitalized patients. Thus, the present investigation revisits the clinical evidence of using remdesivir for COVID-19 treatment, patent status, pharmacology and chemistry. We found 184 families of patents in the Cortellis database, and concerning the clinical evidence, we retrieved 14 systematic reviews with meta-analysis involving remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19, discussing the reduction of adverse events, hospitalization days, mortality rate and the mechanical ventilation period.
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14
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Moneer O, Daly G, Skydel JJ, Nyhan K, Lurie P, Ross JS, Wallach JD. Agreement of treatment effects from observational studies and randomized controlled trials evaluating hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir-ritonavir, or dexamethasone for covid-19: meta-epidemiological study. BMJ 2022; 377:e069400. [PMID: 35537738 PMCID: PMC9086409 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-069400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To systematically identify, match, and compare treatment effects and study demographics from individual or meta-analysed observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the same covid-19 treatments, comparators, and outcomes. DESIGN Meta-epidemiological study. DATA SOURCES National Institutes of Health Covid-19 Treatment Guidelines, a living review and network meta-analysis published in The BMJ, a living systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis in PLOS Medicine (The LIVING Project), and the Epistemonikos "Living OVerview of Evidence" (L·OVE) evidence database. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF STUDIES RCTs in The BMJ's living review that directly compared any of the three most frequently studied therapeutic interventions for covid-19 across all data sources (that is, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir-ritonavir, or dexamethasone) for any safety and efficacy outcomes. Observational studies that evaluated the same interventions, comparisons, and outcomes that were reported in The BMJ's living review. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Safety and efficacy outcomes from observational studies were identified and treatment effects for dichotomous (odds ratios) or continuous (mean differences or ratios of means) outcomes were calculated and, when possible, meta-analyzed to match the treatment effects from individual RCTs or meta-analyses of RCTs reported in The BMJ's living review with the same interventions, comparisons, and outcomes (that is, matched pairs). The analysis compared the distribution of study demographics and the agreement between treatment effects from matched pairs. Matched pairs were in agreement if both observational and RCT treatment effects were significantly increasing or decreasing (P<0.05) or if both treatment effects were not significant (P≥0.05). RESULTS 17 new, independent meta-analyses of observational studies were conducted that compared hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir-ritonavir, or dexamethasone with an active or placebo comparator for any safety or efficacy outcomes in covid-19 treatment. These studies were matched and compared with 17 meta-analyses of RCTs reported in The BMJ's living review. 10 additional matched pairs with only one observational study and/or one RCT were identified. Across all 27 matched pairs, 22 had adequate reporting of demographical and clinical data for all individual studies. All 22 matched pairs had studies with overlapping distributions of sex, age, and disease severity. Overall, 21 (78%) of the 27 matched pairs had treatment effects that were in agreement. Among the 17 matched pairs consisting of meta-analyses of observational studies and meta-analyses of RCTs, 14 (82%) were in agreement; seven (70%) of the 10 matched pairs consisting of at least one observational study or one RCT were in agreement. The 18 matched pairs with treatment effects for dichotomous outcomes had a higher proportion of agreement (n=16, 89%) than did the nine matched pairs with treatment effects for continuous outcomes (n=5, 56%). CONCLUSIONS Meta-analyses of observational studies and RCTs evaluating treatments for covid-19 have summary treatment effects that are generally in agreement. Although our evaluation is limited to three covid-19 treatments, these findings suggest that meta-analyzed evidence from observational studies might complement, but should not replace, evidence collected from RCTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osman Moneer
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Garrison Daly
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Kate Nyhan
- Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Peter Lurie
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Joseph S Ross
- Section of General Medicine and the National Clinician Scholars Program, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Yale-New Haven Health System, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Joshua D Wallach
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
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15
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Development of Evidence-Based COVID-19 Management Guidelines for Local Context: The Methodological Challenges. Glob Health Epidemiol Genom 2022; 2022:4240378. [PMID: 35492871 PMCID: PMC9020141 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4240378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented as a therapeutic challenge for clinicians worldwide due to its rapid spread along with evolving evidence and understanding of the disease. Internationally, recommendations to guide the management of COVID-19 have been created and updated continuously by the WHO and CDC, which have been locally adapted by different countries. Similarly, Pakistan's National Command Operation Center (NCOC), in its national COVID-19 management strategy, generated guidelines for national implementation. Keeping the guidelines updated has proved challenging globally and locally. Here, we present a summary of the process to assess the evidence, including a time-restricted systematic review based on NCOC Clinical Management Guidelines for COVID-19 Infections v4 published on 11th December 2020 version, correlating it with current recommendations and with input one of the guidelines authors, particularly noting the methodological challenges. Methods We conducted a systematic review synthesizing global research on treatment options for COVID-19 hospitalized patients, limiting it to pharmacological interventions for hospitalized COVID-19 patients included in Pakistan's NCOC's national guidelines v4 published on 11th December 2020. Each treatment recommendation's strength and quality of evidence was assessed based on the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) methodology. These were then compared to the most current living WHO COVID-19 pharmacological treatment guidelines v7.1. One of the authors of the NCOC guidelines reviewed and commented on the findings as well. Results We note that the data from our systematic review strongly supports corticosteroids use in treating severe and critically ill COVID-19 hospitalized patients correlating with WHO v7.1 guidelines 24 September 2021. However, evidence from our review and WHO v7.1 for the use of tocilizumab had some conflicting evidence, with data from our review until December 2020 supporting only a weak recommendation for its use, compared to the strong recommendation by the WHO for the use of tocilizumab in patients with severe or critical COVID-19 infection. Regarding the use of antibiotics and ivermectin use in treating COVID-19 hospitalized patients, data from our review and WHO v 7.1 recommend against their use. Conclusion Research data about the efficacy and safety of pharmacological interventions to treat hospitalized patients with COVID-19 are rapidly evolving, and based on it, the evidence for or against recommendations changes accordingly. Our study illustrates the challenges of keeping up with the evidence; the recommendations were based on studies up till December 2021, and we have compared our recommendations with the WHO v7.1, which showed some significant changes in the use of pharmacological treatment options.
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Selvarajan S, Anandaradje A, Shivabasappa S, Melepurakkal Sadanandan D, Nair NS, George M. Efficacy of pharmacological interventions in COVID-19: A network meta-analysis. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 88:4080-4091. [PMID: 35357033 PMCID: PMC9111227 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.15338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To perform network meta-analysis for a head-to-head comparison of various interventions used in COVID - 19 on mortality, clinical recovery, time to clinical improvement and the occurrence of serious adverse events. METHODS Systematic search was performed using online databases with suitable MeSH terms including coronavirus, COVID-19, Randomized Controlled Trial, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, tocilizumab, remdesivir, favipiravir, dexamethasone, and interferon-β. Data were independently extracted by two study investigators and analysed. RESULTS Out of 1225 studies screened, 23 were included for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Among the drugs studied, dexamethasone reduces mortality by 10%, with a relative risk (RR) of 0.90 (95% CI [0.82-0.97]) and increases clinical recovery by 6% (RR 1.06, 95% CI [1.02-1.10]) compared to standard of care. Similarly, remdesivir administered for 10 days increased clinical recovery by 10%, reduced time to clinical improvement by 4 days and lowered the occurrence of serious adverse events by 27% as compared to standard of care. CONCLUSION In comparison to standard of care, dexamethasone was found to increase clinical recovery and lower mortality; remdesivir was significantly associated with a lower risk of mortality as compared to tocilizumab and higher clinical recovery and shorter time to clinical improvement as compared to HCQ and tocilizumab; remdesivir followed by tocilizumab were found to have lesser occurrence of serious adverse events in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Melvin George
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, SRMIST, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
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17
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Most published systematic reviews of remdesivir for COVID-19 were redundant and lacked currency. J Clin Epidemiol 2022; 146:22-31. [PMID: 35192923 PMCID: PMC8858007 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2022.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective To investigate the completeness and currency of published systematic reviews of remdesivir for COVID-19 and to compare this with a living guidelines approach. Study Design and Setting In this cross-sectional study, we searched Europe PMC on May 20, 2021 for systematic reviews of remdesivir (including preprints, living review updates). Completeness and currency were based on the inclusion of four major randomized trials of remdesivir available at the time of publication of the review (including as preliminary results and preprints). Results We included 38 reviews (45 reports), equivalent to a new publication every 9 days. 23 (51%) reports were out of date at the time of publication. Eleven reviews that were current on publication had a median survival time of 10 days (range 4–57). A third of reviews cited other systematic reviews, but only four provided justifications for why another review was necessary. Eight (21%) of the reviews were registered in PROSPERO. The Australian COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce living guidelines were updated within 14 days for three of the remdesivir trials, and within 28 days for the fourth. Conclusion There was considerable duplication of systematic reviews of remdesivir, and half were already out of date at the time of publication.
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Davidson M, Menon S, Chaimani A, Evrenoglou T, Ghosn L, Graña C, Henschke N, Cogo E, Villanueva G, Ferrand G, Riveros C, Bonnet H, Kapp P, Moran C, Devane D, Meerpohl JJ, Rada G, Hróbjartsson A, Grasselli G, Tovey D, Ravaud P, Boutron I. Interleukin-1 blocking agents for treating COVID-19. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022; 1:CD015308. [PMID: 35080773 PMCID: PMC8791232 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd015308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interleukin-1 (IL-1) blocking agents have been used for treating severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), on the premise that their immunomodulatory effect might be beneficial in people with COVID-19. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of IL-1 blocking agents compared with standard care alone or with placebo on effectiveness and safety outcomes in people with COVID-19. We will update this assessment regularly. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register and the COVID-19 L-OVE Platform (search date 5 November 2021). These sources are maintained through regular searches of MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, trial registers and other sources. We also checked the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, regulatory agency websites, Retraction Watch (search date 3 November 2021). SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating IL-1 blocking agents compared with standard care alone or with placebo for people with COVID-19, regardless of disease severity. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We followed Cochrane methodology. The protocol was amended to reduce the number of outcomes considered. Two researchers independently screened and extracted data and assessed the risk of bias with the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. We rated the certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach for the critical outcomes of clinical improvement (Day 28; ≥ D60); WHO Clinical Progression Score of level 7 or above (i.e. the proportion of participants with mechanical ventilation +/- additional organ support OR death) (D28; ≥ D60); all-cause mortality (D28; ≥ D60); incidence of any adverse events; and incidence of serious adverse events. MAIN RESULTS We identified four RCTs of anakinra (three published in peer-reviewed journals, one reported as a preprint) and two RCTs of canakinumab (published in peer-reviewed journals). All trials were multicentre (2 to 133 centres). Two trials stopped early (one due to futility and one as the trigger for inferiority was met). The median/mean age range varied from 58 to 68 years; the proportion of men varied from 58% to 77%. All participants were hospitalised; 67% to 100% were on oxygen at baseline but not intubated; between 0% and 33% were intubated at baseline. We identified a further 16 registered trials with no results available, of which 15 assessed anakinra (four completed, four terminated, five ongoing, three not recruiting) and one (completed) trial assessed canakinumab. Effectiveness of anakinra for people with COVID-19 Anakinra probably results in little or no increase in clinical improvement at D28 (risk ratio (RR) 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97 to 1.20; 3 RCTs, 837 participants; absolute effect: 59 more per 1000 (from 22 fewer to 147 more); moderate-certainty evidence. The evidence is uncertain about an effect of anakinra on 1) the proportion of participants with a WHO Clinical Progression Score of level 7 or above at D28 (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.36 to 1.22; 2 RCTs, 722 participants; absolute effect: 55 fewer per 1000 (from 107 fewer to 37 more); low-certainty evidence) and ≥ D60 (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.96; 1 RCT, 606 participants; absolute effect: 47 fewer per 1000 (from 72 fewer to 4 fewer) low-certainty evidence); and 2) all-cause mortality at D28 (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.39; 2 RCTs, 722 participants; absolute effect: 32 fewer per 1000 (from 68 fewer to 40 more); low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about an effect of anakinra on 1) the proportion of participants with clinical improvement at ≥ D60 (RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.12; 1 RCT, 115 participants; absolute effect: 59 fewer per 1000 (from 186 fewer to 102 more); very low-certainty evidence); and 2) all-cause mortality at ≥ D60 (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.56; 4 RCTs, 1633 participants; absolute effect: 8 more per 1000 (from 84 fewer to 147 more); very low-certainty evidence). Safety of anakinra for people with COVID-19 Anakinra probably results in little or no increase in adverse events (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.11; 2 RCTs, 722 participants; absolute effect: 14 more per 1000 (from 43 fewer to 78 more); moderate-certainty evidence). The evidence is uncertain regarding an effect of anakinra on serious adverse events (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.56; 2 RCTs, 722 participants; absolute effect: 12 fewer per 1000 (from 104 fewer to 138 more); low-certainty evidence). Effectiveness of canakinumab for people with COVID-19 Canakinumab probably results in little or no increase in clinical improvement at D28 (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.14; 2 RCTs, 499 participants; absolute effect: 42 more per 1000 (from 33 fewer to 116 more); moderate-certainty evidence). The evidence of an effect of canakinumab is uncertain on 1) the proportion of participants with a WHO Clinical Progression Score of level 7 or above at D28 (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.20; 2 RCTs, 499 participants; absolute effect: 35 fewer per 1000 (from 69 fewer to 25 more); low-certainty evidence); and 2) all-cause mortality at D28 (RR:0.75; 95% CI 0.39 to 1.42); 2 RCTs, 499 participants; absolute effect: 20 fewer per 1000 (from 48 fewer to 33 more); low-certainty evidence). The evidence is very uncertain about an effect of canakinumab on all-cause mortality at ≥ D60 (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.16 to 1.91; 1 RCT, 45 participants; absolute effect: 112 fewer per 1000 (from 210 fewer to 227 more); very low-certainty evidence). Safety of canakinumab for people with COVID-19 Canakinumab probably results in little or no increase in adverse events (RR 1.02; 95% CI 0.86 to 1.21; 1 RCT, 454 participants; absolute effect: 11 more per 1000 (from 74 fewer to 111 more); moderate-certainty evidence). The evidence of an effect of canakinumab on serious adverse events is uncertain (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.13; 2 RCTs, 499 participants; absolute effect: 44 fewer per 1000 (from 94 fewer to 28 more); low-certainty evidence). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Overall, we did not find evidence for an important beneficial effect of IL-1 blocking agents. The evidence is uncertain or very uncertain for several outcomes. Sixteen trials of anakinra and canakinumab with no results are currently registered, of which four are completed, and four terminated. The findings of this review are updated on the COVID-NMA platform (covid-nma.com).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricia Davidson
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, CRESS, Paris, France
- Centre d'Epidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
| | | | - Anna Chaimani
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, CRESS, Paris, France
| | - Theodoros Evrenoglou
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, CRESS, Paris, France
| | - Lina Ghosn
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, CRESS, Paris, France
- Centre d'Epidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
| | - Carolina Graña
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, CRESS, Paris, France
- Centre d'Epidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
| | | | - Elise Cogo
- Cochrane Response, Cochrane, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Gabriel Ferrand
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, CRESS, Paris, France
- Centre d'Epidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
| | - Carolina Riveros
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, CRESS, Paris, France
- Centre d'Epidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
| | - Hillary Bonnet
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, CRESS, Paris, France
- Centre d'Epidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
| | - Philipp Kapp
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, CRESS, Paris, France
- Centre d'Epidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
| | - Conor Moran
- Infectious Diseases and General Medicine, Mater Misercordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Declan Devane
- Evidence Synthesis Ireland, Cochrane Ireland and HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Joerg J Meerpohl
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center & Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gabriel Rada
- Epistemonikos Foundation, Santiago, Chile
- UC Evidence Center, Cochrane Chile Associated Center, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Asbjørn Hróbjartsson
- Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Odense (CEBMO) and Cochrane Denmark, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Open Patient data Exploratory Network (OPEN), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Giacomo Grasselli
- Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Emergency, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - David Tovey
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, CRESS, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Ravaud
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, CRESS, Paris, France
- Centre d'Epidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Boutron
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, INSERM, INRAE, CNAM, CRESS, Paris, France
- Centre d'Epidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
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Korang SK, von Rohden E, Veroniki AA, Ong G, Ngalamika O, Siddiqui F, Juul S, Nielsen EE, Feinberg JB, Petersen JJ, Legart C, Kokogho A, Maagaard M, Klingenberg S, Thabane L, Bardach A, Ciapponi A, Thomsen AR, Jakobsen JC, Gluud C. Vaccines to prevent COVID-19: A living systematic review with Trial Sequential Analysis and network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0260733. [PMID: 35061702 PMCID: PMC8782520 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 is rapidly spreading causing extensive burdens across the world. Effective vaccines to prevent COVID-19 are urgently needed. METHODS AND FINDINGS Our objective was to assess the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines through analyses of all currently available randomized clinical trials. We searched the databases CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and other sources from inception to June 17, 2021 for randomized clinical trials assessing vaccines for COVID-19. At least two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risks of bias. We conducted meta-analyses, network meta-analyses, and Trial Sequential Analyses (TSA). Our primary outcomes included all-cause mortality, vaccine efficacy, and serious adverse events. We assessed the certainty of evidence with GRADE. We identified 46 trials; 35 trials randomizing 219 864 participants could be included in our analyses. Our meta-analyses showed that mRNA vaccines (efficacy, 95% [95% confidence interval (CI), 92% to 97%]; 71 514 participants; 3 trials; moderate certainty); inactivated vaccines (efficacy, 61% [95% CI, 52% to 68%]; 48 029 participants; 3 trials; moderate certainty); protein subunit vaccines (efficacy, 77% [95% CI, -5% to 95%]; 17 737 participants; 2 trials; low certainty); and viral vector vaccines (efficacy 68% [95% CI, 61% to 74%]; 71 401 participants; 5 trials; low certainty) prevented COVID-19. Viral vector vaccines decreased mortality (risk ratio, 0.25 [95% CI 0.09 to 0.67]; 67 563 participants; 3 trials, low certainty), but comparable data on inactivated, mRNA, and protein subunit vaccines were imprecise. None of the vaccines showed evidence of a difference on serious adverse events, but observational evidence suggested rare serious adverse events. All the vaccines increased the risk of non-serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS The evidence suggests that all the included vaccines are effective in preventing COVID-19. The mRNA vaccines seem most effective in preventing COVID-19, but viral vector vaccines seem most effective in reducing mortality. Further trials and longer follow-up are necessary to provide better insight into the safety profile of these vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Kwasi Korang
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elena von Rohden
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Areti Angeliki Veroniki
- Knowledge Translation Program, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction & Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Giok Ong
- Systematic Review Initiative, NHS Blood and Transplant, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Owen Ngalamika
- Dermatology & Venereology Division, University Teaching Hospital, University of Zambia School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Faiza Siddiqui
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sophie Juul
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emil Eik Nielsen
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joshua Buron Feinberg
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Johanne Juul Petersen
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Legart
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Clinical Metabolic Research, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Afoke Kokogho
- United States Army Medical Research Directorate West Africa, Henry M. Jackson Foundation Medical Research International (HJFMRI), Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Mathias Maagaard
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Anaesthesiological Research, Department of Anaesthesiology, Zealand University Hospital, The Zealand Region of Denmark, Køge, Denmark
| | - Sarah Klingenberg
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group, Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lehana Thabane
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ariel Bardach
- Argentine Cochrane Center. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (IECS-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Ciapponi
- Argentine Cochrane Center. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (IECS-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Allan Randrup Thomsen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Janus C Jakobsen
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group, Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, The Faculty of Heath Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christian Gluud
- Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group, Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, The Capital Region, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, The Faculty of Heath Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Surve RM, Mishra RK, Malla SR, Kamath S, Chakrabarti DR, Kulanthaivelu K, Musunuru M. Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Critically Ill Neurological Patients with COVID-19 Infection in Neuro-intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021; 25:1126-1132. [PMID: 34916744 PMCID: PMC8645809 DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There are insufficient data about clinical outcomes in critically ill neurological patients with concomitant coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This study describes the clinical characteristics, predictors of mortality, and clinical outcomes in COVID-19-positive neurological patients managed in a dedicated COVID-19 neurointensive care unit (CNICU). Methods This single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted in critically ill neurological and neurosurgical patients with concomitant COVID-19 infection admitted to the CNICU at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, from July to November 2020. Patients’ demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging, treatment, and outcome data were retrieved from the manual and electronic medical records. Predictors of mortality and neurological outcome were identified using logistic regression. Results During the study period, 50 COVID-19-positive neurological patients were admitted to the CNICU. Six patients were excluded from the analysis as they were managed in the CNICU for <24 hours. A poor outcome, defined as death or motor Glasgow Coma Scale <5 at hospital discharge, was observed in 34 of 44 patients (77.27%) with inhospital mortality in 26 of 44 patients (59%). Worst modified sequential organ failure assessment (MSOFA) score, lactate dehydrogenase maximum levels (LDHmax), and lymphocyte count were predictors of inhospital mortality with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.88, 1.01, and 0.87, respectively, whereas worst MSOFA and LDHmax levels were predictors for poor neurological outcome with OR of 1.99 and 1.01, respectively. Conclusions Mortality is high in neurological patients with concomitant COVID-19 infection. Elevated inflammatory markers of COVID-19 suggest the role of systemic inflammation on clinical outcomes. Predictors of mortality and poor outcome were higher MSOFA score and elevated LDH levels. Additionally, lymphopenia was associated with mortality. How to cite this article Surve RM, Mishra RK, Malla SR, Kamath S, Chakrabarti DR, Kulanthaivelu K, et al. Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Critically Ill Neurological Patients with COVID-19 Infection in Neuro-intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(10):1126–1132.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohini M Surve
- Department of Neuroanesthesia and Neurocritical Care, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Rajeeb K Mishra
- Department of Neuroanesthesia and Neurocritical Care, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Soumya R Malla
- Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Sriganesh Kamath
- Department of Neuroanesthesia and Neurocritical Care, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Dhritiman R Chakrabarti
- Department of Neuroanesthesia and Neurocritical Care, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Karthik Kulanthaivelu
- Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Mahendranath Musunuru
- Department of Neuroanesthesia and Neurocritical Care, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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Dumas-Mallet E, Boraud T, Gonon F. [Citation misuse and its effects on public health]. Med Sci (Paris) 2021; 37:1035-1041. [PMID: 34851282 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2021142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to effectively contribute to scientific knowledge, biomedical observations have to be validated and debated by scientists in the relevant field. Along this debate that mainly takes place in the scientific literature, citation of previous studies plays a major role. However, only a few academic studies have quantitatively evaluated the suitability and accuracy of scientific citations. Here we review these academic studies. Two types of misuse have been pointed out: Citation bias and citation distortion. First, scientific citations favor positive results and those supporting authors' conclusion. Second, many statements linked to a reference actually misrepresent the referenced findings. About 10% of all citations in biomedicine are strongly inaccurate and misleading for the reader. Finally, we give two examples illustrating how some citation misuses do affect public health: The opioid crisis in the USA and the unjustified fostering of hydroxychloroquine for Covid-19 treatment in France.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Dumas-Mallet
- Institut des maladies neurodégéneratives et CNRS UMR 5293, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Thomas Boraud
- Institut des maladies neurodégéneratives et CNRS UMR 5293, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - François Gonon
- Institut des maladies neurodégéneratives et CNRS UMR 5293, Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076 Bordeaux, France
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Axfors C, Janiaud P, Schmitt AM, Van't Hooft J, Smith ER, Haber NA, Abayomi A, Abduljalil M, Abdulrahman A, Acosta-Ampudia Y, Aguilar-Guisado M, Al-Beidh F, Alejandria MM, Alfonso RN, Ali M, AlQahtani M, AlZamrooni A, Anaya JM, Ang MAC, Aomar IF, Argumanis LE, Averyanov A, Baklaushev VP, Balionis O, Benfield T, Berry S, Birocco N, Bonifacio LB, Bowen AC, Bown A, Cabello-Gutierrez C, Camacho B, Camacho-Ortiz A, Campbell-Lee S, Cao DH, Cardesa A, Carnate JM, Castillo GJJ, Cavallo R, Chowdhury FR, Chowdhury FUH, Ciccone G, Cingolani A, Climacosa FMM, Compernolle V, Cortez CFN, Costa Neto A, D'Antico S, Daly J, Danielle F, Davis JS, De Rosa FG, Denholm JT, Denkinger CM, Desmecht D, Díaz-Coronado JC, Díaz Ponce-Medrano JA, Donneau AF, Dumagay TE, Dunachie S, Dungog CC, Erinoso O, Escasa IMS, Estcourt LJ, Evans A, Evasan ALM, Fareli CJ, Fernandez-Sanchez V, Galassi C, Gallo JE, Garcia PJ, Garcia PL, Garcia JA, Garigliany M, Garza-Gonzalez E, Gauiran DTV, Gaviria García PA, Giron-Gonzalez JA, Gómez-Almaguer D, Gordon AC, Gothot A, Grass Guaqueta JS, Green C, Grimaldi D, Hammond NE, Harvala H, Heralde FM, Herrick J, Higgins AM, Hills TE, Hines J, Holm K, Hoque A, Hoste E, Ignacio JM, Ivanov AV, Janssen M, Jennings JH, Jha V, King RAN, Kjeldsen-Kragh J, Klenerman P, Kotecha A, Krapp F, Labanca L, Laing E, Landin-Olsson M, Laterre PF, Lim LL, Lim J, Ljungquist O, Llaca-Díaz JM, López-Robles C, López-Cárdenas S, Lopez-Plaza I, Lucero JAC, Lundgren M, Macías J, Maganito SC, Malundo AFG, Manrique RD, Manzini PM, Marcos M, Marquez I, Martínez-Marcos FJ, Mata AM, McArthur CJ, McQuilten ZK, McVerry BJ, Menon DK, Meyfroidt G, Mirasol MAL, Misset B, Molton JS, Mondragon AV, Monsalve DM, Moradi Choghakabodi P, Morpeth SC, Mouncey PR, Moutschen M, Müller-Tidow C, Murphy E, Najdovski T, Nichol AD, Nielsen H, Novak RM, O'Sullivan MVN, Olalla J, Osibogun A, Osikomaiya B, Oyonarte S, Pardo-Oviedo JM, Patel MC, Paterson DL, Peña-Perez CA, Perez-Calatayud AA, Pérez-Alba E, Perkina A, Perry N, Pouladzadeh M, Poyato I, Price DJ, Quero AKH, Rahman MM, Rahman MS, Ramesh M, Ramírez-Santana C, Rasmussen M, Rees MA, Rego E, Roberts JA, Roberts DJ, Rodríguez Y, Rodríguez-Baño J, Rogers BA, Rojas M, Romero A, Rowan KM, Saccona F, Safdarian M, Santos MCM, Sasadeusz J, Scozzari G, Shankar-Hari M, Sharma G, Snelling T, Soto A, Tagayuna PY, Tang A, Tatem G, Teofili L, Tong SYC, Turgeon AF, Veloso JD, Venkatesh B, Ventura-Enriquez Y, Webb SA, Wiese L, Wikén C, Wood EM, Yusubalieva GM, Zacharowski K, Zarychanski R, Khanna N, Moher D, Goodman SN, Ioannidis JPA, Hemkens LG. Association between convalescent plasma treatment and mortality in COVID-19: a collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:1170. [PMID: 34800996 PMCID: PMC8605464 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06829-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Convalescent plasma has been widely used to treat COVID-19 and is under investigation in numerous randomized clinical trials, but results are publicly available only for a small number of trials. The objective of this study was to assess the benefits of convalescent plasma treatment compared to placebo or no treatment and all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19, using data from all available randomized clinical trials, including unpublished and ongoing trials (Open Science Framework, https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/GEHFX ). METHODS In this collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis, clinical trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform), the Cochrane COVID-19 register, the LOVE database, and PubMed were searched until April 8, 2021. Investigators of trials registered by March 1, 2021, without published results were contacted via email. Eligible were ongoing, discontinued and completed randomized clinical trials that compared convalescent plasma with placebo or no treatment in COVID-19 patients, regardless of setting or treatment schedule. Aggregated mortality data were extracted from publications or provided by investigators of unpublished trials and combined using the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman random effects model. We investigated the contribution of unpublished trials to the overall evidence. RESULTS A total of 16,477 patients were included in 33 trials (20 unpublished with 3190 patients, 13 published with 13,287 patients). 32 trials enrolled only hospitalized patients (including 3 with only intensive care unit patients). Risk of bias was low for 29/33 trials. Of 8495 patients who received convalescent plasma, 1997 died (23%), and of 7982 control patients, 1952 died (24%). The combined risk ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.92; 1.02) with between-study heterogeneity not beyond chance (I2 = 0%). The RECOVERY trial had 69.8% and the unpublished evidence 25.3% of the weight in the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS Convalescent plasma treatment of patients with COVID-19 did not reduce all-cause mortality. These results provide strong evidence that convalescent plasma treatment for patients with COVID-19 should not be used outside of randomized trials. Evidence synthesis from collaborations among trial investigators can inform both evidence generation and evidence application in patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathrine Axfors
- Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University, Stanford, USA
- Department for Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Perrine Janiaud
- Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 12, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas M Schmitt
- Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 12, 4031, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Janneke Van't Hooft
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Emily R Smith
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, USA
| | - Noah A Haber
- Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | | | - Manal Abduljalil
- Internal Medicine, Bahrain Defence Force Hospital, Riffa, Bahrain
| | - Abdulkarim Abdulrahman
- Medical Team, National Task Force for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID19), Riffa, Bahrain
- Mohammed Bin Khalifa Cardiac Centre, Awali, Bahrain
| | - Yeny Acosta-Ampudia
- Center for Autoimmune Diseases Research (CREA), Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Manuela Aguilar-Guisado
- Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Preventive Medicine Unit, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Seville, Spain
| | - Farah Al-Beidh
- Surgery and Cancer, Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Marissa M Alejandria
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Rachelle N Alfonso
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Mohammad Ali
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Manaf AlQahtani
- Medical Team, National Task Force for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID19), Riffa, Bahrain
- Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Bahrain Defence Force Hospital, Riffa, Bahrain
- Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Medical University in Bahrain, Riffa, Bahrain
| | - Alaa AlZamrooni
- Internal Medicine, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Juan-Manuel Anaya
- Center for Autoimmune Diseases Research (CREA), Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Mark Angelo C Ang
- Department of Laboratories, Division of Blood Bank, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Ismael F Aomar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain
| | - Luis E Argumanis
- Banco de Sangre, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Lima, Peru
| | - Alexander Averyanov
- Pulmonary Division, Federal Scientific and Clinical Center of Specialized Medical Care and Medical Technologies of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Fundamental Medicine Department, Pulmonology Scientific and Research Institute under Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir P Baklaushev
- Fundamental Medicine Department, Pulmonology Scientific and Research Institute under Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Cell Culture Laboratory, Biomedical Research, Federal Scientific and Clinical Center of Specialized Medical Care and Medical Technologies of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Olga Balionis
- Pulmonary Division, Federal Scientific and Clinical Center of Specialized Medical Care and Medical Technologies of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Laboratory of Personalized Medicine, Pulmonology Scientific and Research Institute under Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Thomas Benfield
- Center for Research and Disruption of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital-Amager and Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | | | - Nadia Birocco
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Lynn B Bonifacio
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Asha C Bowen
- Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Australia
- Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, Australia
| | - Abbie Bown
- Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK
| | - Carlos Cabello-Gutierrez
- Department Research in Virology and Mycology, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Bernardo Camacho
- Instituto Distrital de Ciencia Biotecnología e Investigación en Salud (IDCBIS), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Adrian Camacho-Ortiz
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico
| | | | - Damon H Cao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, USA
| | - Ana Cardesa
- Clinical Department, Red Andaluza de Diseño y Traslacion de Terapias Avanzadas, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jose M Carnate
- Department of Laboratories, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - German Jr J Castillo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Rossana Cavallo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Unit of Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Fazle R Chowdhury
- Internal Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Giovannino Ciccone
- Department of Quality and Safety in Health Care, Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Antonella Cingolani
- Infectious Disease, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Veerle Compernolle
- Blood Services, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, Mechelen, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Carlo Francisco N Cortez
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Abel Costa Neto
- Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino (IDOR), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sergio D'Antico
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Unit of Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - James Daly
- Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Franca Danielle
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Blood Bank, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Giuseppe De Rosa
- Department of Medical Sciences, Unit of Infective Diseases, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Justin T Denholm
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Doherty Department, University of Melbourne, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Claudia M Denkinger
- Center of Infectious Diseases, Division of Tropical Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Teresita E Dumagay
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Susanna Dunachie
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Cecile C Dungog
- Department of Laboratories, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | | | - Ivy Mae S Escasa
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Lise J Estcourt
- Clinical, Research and Development, NHS Blood and Transplant, Oxford, UK
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine and BRC Haematology Theme, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Amy Evans
- Clinical Trials Unit, NHS Blood and Transplant, Cambridge, UK
| | - Agnes L M Evasan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Christian J Fareli
- CENETEC (National Center for Health Technology Excellence), Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Claudia Galassi
- Department of Quality and Safety in Health Care, Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Patricia J Garcia
- Facultad de Salud Pública y Administración, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Patricia L Garcia
- Servicio de Hemoterapia y Banco de Sangre, Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño San Borja, Lima, Peru
| | - Jesus A Garcia
- Department of Haematology, Centro Transfusional Tejidos y Celulas de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Elvira Garza-Gonzalez
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Deonne Thaddeus V Gauiran
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Paula A Gaviria García
- Instituto Distrital de Ciencia Biotecnología e Investigación en Salud (IDCBIS), Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | | | - Anthony C Gordon
- Surgery and Cancer, Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Intensive Care, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - André Gothot
- Immunohematology, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Cameron Green
- ANZIC-RC, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David Grimaldi
- Intensive Care Medicine, Cliniques Universitaires de Bruxelles-Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Naomi E Hammond
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney and New Delhi, Sydney, Australia
| | - Heli Harvala
- Microbiology Services, NHS Blood and Transplant, London, UK
| | - Francisco M Heralde
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
| | - Jesica Herrick
- Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Immunology, and International Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - Alisa M Higgins
- ANZIC-RC, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Thomas E Hills
- Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand
- Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jennifer Hines
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, USA
| | - Karin Holm
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Infectious Diseases, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ashraful Hoque
- Blood Transfusion, Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Eric Hoste
- Intensive Care Medicine, Gand University Hospital, Gent, Belgium
| | - Jose M Ignacio
- Department of Neumology and Pulmonology, Hospital Quiron de Marbella, Málaga, Spain
| | - Alexander V Ivanov
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Maike Janssen
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jeffrey H Jennings
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, USA
| | - Vivekanand Jha
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney and New Delhi, New Delhi, India
- School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK
- Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Ruby Anne N King
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
| | - Jens Kjeldsen-Kragh
- Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University and Regional Laboratories, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
| | - Paul Klenerman
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Aditya Kotecha
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, USA
| | - Fiorella Krapp
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander Von Humboldt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Luciana Labanca
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Blood Bank, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Emma Laing
- Clinical Trials Unit, NHS Blood and Transplant, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mona Landin-Olsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Endocrinology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | - Jodor Lim
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Oskar Ljungquist
- Clinical Sciences, Clinical Infection Medicine, Lund University, Malmo, Sweden
| | - Jorge M Llaca-Díaz
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Concepción López-Robles
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario Virgen de Las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Salvador López-Cárdenas
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario de Jerez de La Frontera, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
| | - Ileana Lopez-Plaza
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, USA
| | - Josephine Anne C Lucero
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Maria Lundgren
- Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University and Regional Laboratories, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden
| | - Juan Macías
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario de Valme, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Sandy C Maganito
- Department of Laboratories, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Anna Flor G Malundo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Rubén D Manrique
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Group, Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Paola M Manzini
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Unit of Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Miguel Marcos
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Quiron de Malaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Ignacio Marquez
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Regional Universitario de Malaga, Málaga, Spain
| | | | - Ana M Mata
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital San Juan de Dios del Aljarafe, Bormujos, Spain
| | - Colin J McArthur
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Zoe K McQuilten
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Haematology, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Bryan J McVerry
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - David K Menon
- University Division of Anaesthesia, Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Geert Meyfroidt
- Intensive Care Medicine, Leuven University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ma Angelina L Mirasol
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Benoît Misset
- Intensive Care Medicine, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Alric V Mondragon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Diana M Monsalve
- Center for Autoimmune Diseases Research (CREA), Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Parastoo Moradi Choghakabodi
- Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz, Iran
| | | | - Paul R Mouncey
- Clinical Trials Unit, Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Michel Moutschen
- Intensive Care Medicine, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Carsten Müller-Tidow
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, Internal Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Erin Murphy
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, USA
| | | | - Alistair D Nichol
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin-Clinical Research Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Intensive Care Medicine, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Henrik Nielsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Richard M Novak
- Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Immunology, and International Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - Matthew V N O'Sullivan
- Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead, Australia
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Julian Olalla
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Costa del Sol, Málaga, Spain
| | - Akin Osibogun
- College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | | | - Salvador Oyonarte
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Centro Transfusional Tejidos y Celulas de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Juan M Pardo-Oviedo
- Hospital Universitario Mayor Méderi, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Mahesh C Patel
- Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Immunology, and International Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - David L Paterson
- Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Australia
| | | | | | - Eduardo Pérez-Alba
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Anastasia Perkina
- Pulmonary Division, Federal Scientific and Clinical Center of Specialized Medical Care and Medical Technologies of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Laboratory of Personalized Medicine, Pulmonology Scientific and Research Institute under Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Naomi Perry
- Doherty Department, University of Melbourne, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mandana Pouladzadeh
- Emergency Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Inmaculada Poyato
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario Torrecardenas, Almería, Spain
| | - David J Price
- Doherty Department, University of Melbourne, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anne Kristine H Quero
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Md M Rahman
- Internal Medicine, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md S Rahman
- Pharmacology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mayur Ramesh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, USA
| | | | - Magnus Rasmussen
- Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Infectious Diseases, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Megan A Rees
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Eduardo Rego
- Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino (IDOR), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jason A Roberts
- Hospital Universitario Mayor Méderi, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Departments of Pharmacy and Intensive Care Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
- Division of Anaesthesiology Critical Care Emergency and Pain Medicine, Nîmes University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Nîmes, France
| | - David J Roberts
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine and BRC Haematology Theme, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Clinical and Research and Development, NHS Blood and Transplant, Oxford, UK
| | - Yhojan Rodríguez
- Center for Autoimmune Diseases Research (CREA), Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Clinica del Occidente, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jesús Rodríguez-Baño
- Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Unit, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Sevilla-IBiS, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Benjamin A Rogers
- Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Manuel Rojas
- Center for Autoimmune Diseases Research (CREA), Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alberto Romero
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario de Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Kathryn M Rowan
- Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC), London, UK
| | - Fabio Saccona
- Department of Quality and Safety in Health Care, Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Mehdi Safdarian
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Maria Clariza M Santos
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Joe Sasadeusz
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Doherty Department, University of Melbourne, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gitana Scozzari
- Department of Medical Hospital Direction, Unit of Medical Direction, University Hospital Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Manu Shankar-Hari
- St Thomas' Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Gorav Sharma
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, USA
| | - Thomas Snelling
- Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Australia
- Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia
- Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
- Sydney Children's Hospital Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Alonso Soto
- Facultad de Medicina Humana, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas (INICIB), Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Peru
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Nacional Hipolito Unanue, Lima, Peru
| | - Pedrito Y Tagayuna
- Department of Laboratories, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Amy Tang
- Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, USA
| | - Geneva Tatem
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, USA
| | - Luciana Teofili
- Transfusion Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Steven Y C Tong
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alexis F Turgeon
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Januario D Veloso
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, Manila, Philippines
| | - Balasubramanian Venkatesh
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney and New Delhi, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Wesley and Princess Alexandra Hospitals, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Steve A Webb
- School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin-Clinical Research Centre, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- St John of God Hospital, Subiaco, Subiaco, Australia
| | - Lothar Wiese
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Christian Wikén
- Infectious Diseases, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Erica M Wood
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gaukhar M Yusubalieva
- Cell Culture Laboratory, Biomedical Research, Federal Scientific and Clinical Center of Specialized Medical Care and Medical Technologies of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Kai Zacharowski
- Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ryan Zarychanski
- Department of Internal Medicine, Critical Care and Hematology/Medical Oncology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Nina Khanna
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene and Infection Biology Laboratory, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - David Moher
- Centre for Journalology, Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Steven N Goodman
- Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University, Stanford, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | - John P A Ioannidis
- Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University, Stanford, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
- Meta-Research Innovation Center Berlin (METRIC-B), Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars G Hemkens
- Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University, Stanford, USA.
- Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 12, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.
- Meta-Research Innovation Center Berlin (METRIC-B), Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
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23
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Ayerbe L, Risco-Risco C, Forgnone I, Pérez-Piñar M, Ayis S. Azithromycin in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Antimicrob Chemother 2021; 77:303-309. [PMID: 34791330 PMCID: PMC8690025 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkab404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Azithromycin has been widely used in the management of COVID-19. However, the evidence on its actual effects remains disperse and difficult to apply in clinical settings. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes the available evidence to date on the beneficial and adverse effects of azithromycin in patients with COVID-19. Methods The PRISMA 2020 statement criteria were followed. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing clinical outcomes of patients treated with and without azithromycin, indexed until 5 July 2021, were searched in PubMed, Embase, The Web of Science, Scopus, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and MedRXivs. We used random-effects models to estimate pooled effect size from aggregate data. Results The initial search produced 4950 results. Finally, 16 studies, 5 RCTs and 11 with an observational design, with a total of 22 984 patients, were included. The meta-analysis showed no difference in mortality for those treated with or without azithromycin, in observational studies [OR: 0.90 (0.66–1.24)], RCTs [OR: 0.97 (0.87–1.08)] and also when both types of studies were pooled together [with an overall OR: 0.95 (0.79–1.13)]. Different individual studies also reported no significant difference for those treated with or without azithromycin in need for hospital admission or time to admission from ambulatory settings, clinical severity, need for intensive care, or adverse effects. Conclusions The results presented in this systematic review do not support the use of azithromycin in the management of COVID-19. Future research on treatment for patients with COVID-19 may need to focus on other drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Ayerbe
- Centre of Primary Care and Mental Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.,Carnarvon Medical Centre, Southend on Sea, UK
| | - Carlos Risco-Risco
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sanchinarro HM University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ivo Forgnone
- Canal de Panamá Primary Care Centre, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Salma Ayis
- School of Population Health and Environmental Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
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24
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Edem B, Williams V, Onwuchekwa C, Umesi A, Calnan M. COVID-19-related research in Africa: a cross-sectional review of the International Clinical Trial Registration Platform (ICTRP). Trials 2021; 22:682. [PMID: 34620207 PMCID: PMC8496615 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05621-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The declaration of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a pandemic in early 2020, has seen an upsurge in research globally to fill gaps in the epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 virus impact on health care and clinical management, as well as possible prevention and treatment modalities. Published literature on the different types of COVID-19 research conducted globally is varied and is particularly limited in Africa. This study sets out to describe the COVID-19-related research registered and conducted on the African continent. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of all COVID-19-related studies available in the WHO’s International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) repository. We extracted studies registered from March 1, 2020, to July 15, 2021. A descriptive analysis of the extracted data was performed, and the findings were presented. Results At extraction, a total of 12,533 COVID-19-related studies were listed on the ICTRP portal. We included 9803 studies, after excluding 2060 duplicate records and 686 records without a site/country. While 9347 studies (96%) were conducted outside of Africa, only 456 studies (4%) were conducted in the African continent, of which 270 (59.2%) were interventional studies, and 184 (40.4%) were observational studies. About 80% of the studies were conducted in Egypt and South Africa, and most of these involved testing of drugs and biologicals. Conclusion The African continent hosts considerably fewer COVID-19-related research compared to other parts of the world. This may have implications on scientific evidence available for implementing COVID-19 control efforts. There is, therefore, a need for local funding and ownership of research projects and north-south collaboration in research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassey Edem
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit the Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, Gambia.
| | - Victor Williams
- Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Ama Umesi
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, MRC Unit the Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, Gambia
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25
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Chakurkar V, Rajapurkar M, Lele S, Mukhopadhyay B, Lobo V, Injarapu R, Sheikh M, Dholu B, Ghosh A, Jha V. Increased serum catalytic iron may mediate tissue injury and death in patients with COVID-19. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19618. [PMID: 34608227 PMCID: PMC8490366 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99142-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathophysiology and the factors determining disease severity in COVID-19 are not yet clear, with current data indicating a possible role of altered iron metabolism. Previous studies of iron parameters in COVID-19 are cross-sectional and have not studied catalytic iron, the biologically most active form of iron. The study was done to determine the role of catalytic iron in the adverse outcomes in COVID-19. We enrolled adult patients hospitalized with a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 and measured serum iron, transferrin saturation, ferritin, hepcidin and serum catalytic iron daily. Primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, and kidney replacement therapy. Associations between longitudinal iron parameter measurements and time-to-event outcomes were examined using a joint model. We enrolled 120 patients (70 males) with median age 50 years. The primary composite outcome was observed in 25 (20.8%) patients-mechanical ventilation was needed in 21 (17.5%) patients and in-hospital mortality occurred in 21 (17.5%) patients. Baseline levels of ferritin and hepcidin were significantly associated with the primary composite outcome. The joint model analysis showed that ferritin levels were significantly associated with primary composite outcome [HR (95% CI) = 2.63 (1.62, 4.24) after adjusting for age and gender]. Both ferritin and serum catalytic iron levels were positively associated with in-hospital mortality [HR (95% CI) = 3.22 (2.05, 5.07) and 1.73 (1.21, 2.47), respectively], after adjusting for age and gender. The study shows an association of ferritin and catalytic iron with adverse outcomes in COVID-19. This suggests new pathophysiologic pathways in this disease, also raising the possibility of considering iron chelation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipul Chakurkar
- Renal Unit, Department of Medicine, KEM Hospital, Sardar Moodliar Road, Rasta Peth, Pune, Maharashtra, 411011, India.
| | - Mohan Rajapurkar
- Muljibhai Patel Society for Research in Nephro-Urology, Nadiad, India
| | - Suhas Lele
- Muljibhai Patel Society for Research in Nephro-Urology, Nadiad, India
| | | | - Valentine Lobo
- Renal Unit, Department of Medicine, KEM Hospital, Sardar Moodliar Road, Rasta Peth, Pune, Maharashtra, 411011, India
| | | | | | | | - Arpita Ghosh
- The George Institute for Global Health, India, UNSW, New Delhi, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Vivekanand Jha
- The George Institute for Global Health, India, UNSW, New Delhi, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India.,School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK
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26
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Pierre O, Riveros C, Charpy S, Boutron I. Secondary electronic sources demonstrated very good sensitivity for identifying studies evaluating interventions for COVID-19. J Clin Epidemiol 2021; 141:46-53. [PMID: 34555426 PMCID: PMC8451522 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Objectives To assess the sensitivity of two secondary electronic sources of COVID-19 studies: 1) the Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register (https://covid-19.cochrane.org/); and, 2) the Living Overview of the Evidence (L•OVE) COVID-19 platform (https://iloveevidence.com/). Study design and setting We identified reports of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies (OS) assessing preventive interventions or treatment for COVID-19. The reference standard comprised all reports included in the COVID-NMA platform (covid-nma.com), in two major living systematic reviews of RCTs assessing pharmacologic treatment of COVID-19, or identified in either of the two secondary sources evaluated. The search for all sources was conducted through September 7, 2020. Our primary outcome was the proportion of the reports included in the reference standard that were identified by each secondary source. Results We identified 680 reports, 91 RCT reports, 97 RCT protocols, and 492 OS reports. The Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register identified 88% [95% confidence interval, 79–94] of the RCT reports, 90% [82–95] of the RCT protocols, and 82% [78–85] of the OS reports. The L•OVE platform identified 100% [97–100] of the RCT reports and RCT protocols and 100% [99–100] of the OS reports. Conclusion These platforms proved to be a viable screening alternative to searching every individual source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Pierre
- Université de Paris, UMR 1153 CRESS Inserm, 75004, Paris, France; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, (AP-HP), 75004, Paris, France; Cochrane France, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, 75004, Paris, France
| | - Carolina Riveros
- Université de Paris, UMR 1153 CRESS Inserm, 75004, Paris, France; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, (AP-HP), 75004, Paris, France; Cochrane France, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, 75004, Paris, France
| | - Sarah Charpy
- Université de Paris, UMR 1153 CRESS Inserm, 75004, Paris, France; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, (AP-HP), 75004, Paris, France; Cochrane France, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, 75004, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Boutron
- Université de Paris, UMR 1153 CRESS Inserm, 75004, Paris, France; Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, (AP-HP), 75004, Paris, France; Cochrane France, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital, 75004, Paris, France.
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27
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Kirkham AM, Monaghan M, Bailey AJM, Shorr R, Lalu MM, Fergusson DA, Allan DS. Mesenchymal stromal cells as a therapeutic intervention for COVID-19: a living systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. Syst Rev 2021; 10:249. [PMID: 34526123 PMCID: PMC8441251 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-021-01803-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have significant immunomodulatory and tissue repair capabilities, mediated partly by conditioned media or through secreted extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs). Infection with SARS-CoV-2 can cause mild to life-threatening illness due to activated immune responses that may be dampened by MSCs or their secretome. Many clinical studies of MSCs have been launched since the beginning of the global pandemic, however, few have been completed and most lack power to assess efficacy. Repeated systematic searches and meta-analyses are needed to understand, in real time, the extent of potential benefit in different patient populations as the evidence emerges. METHODS This living systematic review will be maintained to provide up-to-date information as the pandemic evolves. A systematic literature search of Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases will be performed. All clinical studies (e.g., randomized, pseudorandomized and non-randomized controlled trials, uncontrolled trials, and case series) employing MSCs or their secretome as a therapeutic intervention for COVID-19 will be included. Patients must have confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Study screening and data extraction will be performed in duplicate. Information concerning interventions, patient populations, methods of MSC isolation and characterization, primary and secondary clinical and/or laboratory outcomes, and adverse events will be extracted. Key clinical outcomes will be pooled through random-effects meta-analysis to determine the efficacy of MSCs and their secreted products for COVID-19. DISCUSSION Our systematic review and subsequent updates will inform the scientific, medical, and health policy communities as the pandemic evolves to guide decisions on the appropriate use of MSC-related products to treat COVID-19. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD 42021225431.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan M Kirkham
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.,Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Rd, Box 704, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Madeline Monaghan
- Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Rd, Box 704, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Adrian J M Bailey
- Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Rd, Box 704, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.,School of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Risa Shorr
- Medical Information and Learning Services, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Manoj M Lalu
- Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Rd, Box 704, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.,Regenerative Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Rdx, Box 704, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.,Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Dean A Fergusson
- Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Rd, Box 704, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.,School of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada
| | - David S Allan
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. .,Clinical Epidemiology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Rd, Box 704, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada. .,Regenerative Medicine, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Rdx, Box 704, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada. .,Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Canada.
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Safety and Efficacy of Convalescent Plasma in COVID-19: An Overview of Systematic Reviews. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11091663. [PMID: 34574004 PMCID: PMC8467957 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11091663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Convalescent plasma (CP) from patients recovered from COVID-19 is one of the most studied anti-viral therapies against SARS-COV-2 infection. The aim of this study is to summarize the evidence from the available systematic reviews on the efficacy and safety of CP in COVID-19 through an overview of the published systematic reviews (SRs). A systematic literature search was conducted up to August 2021 in Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane and Medrxiv databases to identify systematic reviews focusing on CP use in COVID-19. Two review authors independently evaluated reviews for inclusion, extracted data and assessed quality of evidence using AMSTAR (A Measurement Tool to Assess Reviews) and GRADE tools. The following outcomes were analyzed: mortality, viral clearance, clinical improvement, length of hospital stay, adverse reactions. In addition, where possible, subgroup analyses were performed according to study design (e.g., RCTs vs. non-RCTs), CP neutralizing antibody titer and timing of administration, and disease severity. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the checklist for systematic reviews AMSTAR-2 and the GRADE assessment. Overall, 29 SRs met the inclusion criteria based on 53 unique primary studies (17 RCT and 36 non-RCT). Limitations to the methodological quality of reviews most commonly related to absence of a protocol (11/29) and funding sources of primary studies (27/29). Of the 89 analyses on which GRADE judgements were made, effect estimates were judged to be of high/moderate certainty in four analyses, moderate in 38, low in 38, very low in nine. Despite the variability in the certainty of the evidence, mostly related to the risk of bias and inconsistency, the results of this umbrella review highlight a mortality reduction in CP over standard therapy when administered early and at high titer, without increased adverse reactions.
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29
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Tai W, Chow MYT, Chang RYK, Tang P, Gonda I, MacArthur RB, Chan HK, Kwok PCL. Nebulised Isotonic Hydroxychloroquine Aerosols for Potential Treatment of COVID-19. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1260. [PMID: 34452220 PMCID: PMC8399722 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13081260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an unprecedented pandemic that has severely impacted global public health and the economy. Hydroxychloroquine administered orally to COVID-19 patients was ineffective, but its antiviral and anti-inflammatory actions were observed in vitro. The lack of efficacy in vivo could be due to the inefficiency of the oral route in attaining high drug concentration in the lungs. Delivering hydroxychloroquine by inhalation may be a promising alternative for direct targeting with minimal systemic exposure. This paper reports on the characterisation of isotonic, pH-neutral hydroxychloroquine sulphate (HCQS) solutions for nebulisation for COVID-19. They can be prepared, sterilised, and nebulised for testing as an investigational new drug for treating this infection. The 20, 50, and 100 mg/mL HCQS solutions were stable for at least 15 days without refrigeration when stored in darkness. They were atomised from Aerogen Solo Ultra vibrating mesh nebulisers (1 mL of each of the three concentrations and, in addition, 1.5 mL of 100 mg/mL) to form droplets having a median volumetric diameter of 4.3-5.2 µm, with about 50-60% of the aerosol by volume < 5 µm. The aerosol droplet size decreased (from 4.95 to 4.34 µm) with increasing drug concentration (from 20 to 100 mg/mL). As the drug concentration and liquid volume increased, the nebulisation duration increased from 3 to 11 min. The emitted doses ranged from 9.1 to 75.9 mg, depending on the concentration and volume nebulised. The HCQS solutions appear suitable for preclinical and clinical studies for potential COVID-19 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waiting Tai
- Advanced Drug Delivery Group, Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (W.T.); (M.Y.T.C.); (R.Y.K.C.); (P.T.); (H.-K.C.)
| | - Michael Yee Tak Chow
- Advanced Drug Delivery Group, Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (W.T.); (M.Y.T.C.); (R.Y.K.C.); (P.T.); (H.-K.C.)
| | - Rachel Yoon Kyung Chang
- Advanced Drug Delivery Group, Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (W.T.); (M.Y.T.C.); (R.Y.K.C.); (P.T.); (H.-K.C.)
| | - Patricia Tang
- Advanced Drug Delivery Group, Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (W.T.); (M.Y.T.C.); (R.Y.K.C.); (P.T.); (H.-K.C.)
| | - Igor Gonda
- Pulmoquine Therapeutics, Inc., 1155 Camino Del Mar Suite 481, Del Mar, CA 92014, USA; (I.G.); (R.B.M.)
| | - Robert B. MacArthur
- Pulmoquine Therapeutics, Inc., 1155 Camino Del Mar Suite 481, Del Mar, CA 92014, USA; (I.G.); (R.B.M.)
| | - Hak-Kim Chan
- Advanced Drug Delivery Group, Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (W.T.); (M.Y.T.C.); (R.Y.K.C.); (P.T.); (H.-K.C.)
| | - Philip Chi Lip Kwok
- Advanced Drug Delivery Group, Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia; (W.T.); (M.Y.T.C.); (R.Y.K.C.); (P.T.); (H.-K.C.)
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30
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Arenas M, Algara M, De Febrer G, Rubio C, Sanz X, de la Casa MA, Vasco C, Marín J, Fernández-Letón P, Villar J, Torres-Royo L, Villares P, Membrive I, Acosta J, López-Cano M, Araguas P, Quera J, Rodríguez-Tomás F, Montero A. Could pulmonary low-dose radiation therapy be an alternative treatment for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia? Preliminary results of a multicenter SEOR-GICOR nonrandomized prospective trial (IPACOVID trial). Strahlenther Onkol 2021; 197:1010-1020. [PMID: 34230996 PMCID: PMC8260020 DOI: 10.1007/s00066-021-01803-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lung low-dose radiation therapy (LD-RT) for pneumonia in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Materials and methods Inclusion criteria comprised patients with COVID-19-related moderate–severe pneumonia warranting hospitalization with supplemental O2 and not candidates for admission to the intensive care unit because of comorbidities or general status. All patients received single lung dose of 0.5 Gy. Respiratory and systemic inflammatory parameters were evaluated before irradiation, at 24 h and 1 week after LD-RT. Primary endpoint was increased in the ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) or the pulse oximetry saturation (SpO2) to fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio of at least 20% at 24 h with respect to the preirradiation value. Results Between June and November 2020, 36 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and a mean age of 84 years were enrolled. Seventeen were women and 19 were men and all of them had comorbidities. All patients had bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on chest X‑ray. All patients received dexamethasone treatment. Mean SpO2 pretreatment value was 94.28% and the SpO2/FiO2 ratio varied from 255 mm Hg to 283 mm Hg at 24 h and to 381 mm Hg at 1 week, respectively. In those who survived (23/36, 64%), a significant improvement was observed in the percentage of lung involvement in the CT scan at 1 week after LD-RT. No adverse effects related to radiation treatment have been reported. Conclusions LD-RT appears to be a feasible and safe option in a population with COVID-19 bilateral interstitial pneumonia in the presence of significant comorbidities. Supplementary Information The online version of this article (10.1007/s00066-021-01803-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Arenas
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - M. Algara
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain
| | - G. De Febrer
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Department of Geriatric and Palliative care, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - C. Rubio
- Department of Radiation Oncology, HM Hospitales., Madrid, Spain
| | - X. Sanz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - C. Vasco
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Department of Geriatric and Palliative care, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - J. Marín
- Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Critical Care, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - J. Villar
- Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Infection Diseases, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - L. Torres-Royo
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - P. Villares
- Department of Internal Medicine, HM Hospitales, Madrid, Spain
| | - I. Membrive
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J. Acosta
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - M. López-Cano
- Department of Internal Medicine, HM Hospitales, Madrid, Spain
| | - P. Araguas
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - J. Quera
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques, Barcelona, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F. Rodríguez-Tomás
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigacions Pere Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain
| | - A. Montero
- Department of Radiation Oncology, HM Hospitales., Madrid, Spain
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Peng HT, Rhind SG, Beckett A. Convalescent Plasma for the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Quantitative Analysis. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2021; 7:e25500. [PMID: 33825689 PMCID: PMC8245055 DOI: 10.2196/25500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by a novel coronavirus termed SARS-CoV-2, has spread quickly worldwide. Convalescent plasma (CP) obtained from patients following recovery from COVID-19 infection and development of antibodies against the virus is an attractive option for either prophylactic or therapeutic treatment, since antibodies may have direct or indirect antiviral activities and immunotherapy has proven effective in principle and in many clinical reports. OBJECTIVE We seek to characterize the latest advances and evidence in the use of CP for COVID-19 through a systematic review and quantitative analysis, identify knowledge gaps in this setting, and offer recommendations and directives for future research. METHODS PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were continuously searched for studies assessing the use of CP for COVID-19, including clinical studies, commentaries, reviews, guidelines or protocols, and in vitro testing of CP antibodies. The screening process and data extraction were performed according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Quality appraisal of all clinical studies was conducted using a universal tool independent of study designs. A meta-analysis of case-control and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted using a random-effects model. RESULTS Substantial literature has been published covering various aspects of CP therapy for COVID-19. Of the references included in this review, a total of 243 eligible studies including 64 clinical studies, 79 commentary articles, 46 reviews, 19 guidance and protocols, and 35 in vitro testing of CP antibodies matched the criteria. Positive results have been mostly observed so far when using CP for the treatment of COVID-19. There were remarkable heterogeneities in the CP therapy with respect to patient demographics, donor antibody titers, and time and dose of CP administration. The studies assessing the safety of CP treatment reported low incidence of adverse events. Most clinical studies, in particular case reports and case series, had poor quality. Only 1 RCT was of high quality. Randomized and nonrandomized data were found in 2 and 11 studies, respectively, and were included for meta-analysis, suggesting that CP could reduce mortality and increase viral clearance. Despite promising pilot studies, the benefits of CP treatment can only be clearly established through carefully designed RCTs. CONCLUSIONS There is developing support for CP therapy, particularly for patients who are critically ill or mechanically ventilated and resistant to antivirals and supportive care. These studies provide important lessons that should inform the planning of well-designed RCTs to generate more robust knowledge for the efficacy of CP in patients with COVID-19. Future research is necessary to fill the knowledge gap regarding prevention and treatment for patients with COVID-19 with CP while other therapeutics are being developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry T Peng
- Defence Research and Development Canada, Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shawn G Rhind
- Defence Research and Development Canada, Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew Beckett
- St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Royal Canadian Medical Services, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Chalmers JD, Crichton ML, Goeminne PC, Cao B, Humbert M, Shteinberg M, Antoniou KM, Ulrik CS, Parks H, Wang C, Vandendriessche T, Qu J, Stolz D, Brightling C, Welte T, Aliberti S, Simonds AK, Tonia T, Roche N. Management of hospitalised adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a European Respiratory Society living guideline. Eur Respir J 2021; 57:2100048. [PMID: 33692120 PMCID: PMC7947358 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00048-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hospitalised patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a result of SARS-CoV-2 infection have a high mortality rate and frequently require noninvasive respiratory support or invasive ventilation. Optimising and standardising management through evidence-based guidelines may improve quality of care and therefore patient outcomes. METHODS A task force from the European Respiratory Society and endorsed by the Chinese Thoracic Society identified priority interventions (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) for the initial version of this "living guideline" using the PICO (population, intervention, comparator, outcome) format. The GRADE approach was used for assessing the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations. Systematic literature reviews were performed, and data pooled by meta-analysis where possible. Evidence tables were presented and evidence to decision frameworks were used to formulate recommendations. RESULTS Based on the available evidence at the time of guideline development (20 February, 2021), the panel makes a strong recommendation in favour of the use of systemic corticosteroids in patients requiring supplementary oxygen or ventilatory support, and for the use of anticoagulation in hospitalised patients. The panel makes a conditional recommendation for interleukin (IL)-6 receptor antagonist monoclonal antibody treatment and high-flow nasal oxygen or continuous positive airway pressure in patients with hypoxaemic respiratory failure. The panel make strong recommendations against the use of hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir-ritonavir. Conditional recommendations are made against the use of azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine combined with azithromycin, colchicine, and remdesivir, in the latter case specifically in patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. No recommendation was made for remdesivir in patients requiring supplemental oxygen. Further recommendations for research are made. CONCLUSION The evidence base for management of COVID-19 now supports strong recommendations in favour and against specific interventions. These guidelines will be regularly updated as further evidence becomes available.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Chalmers
- School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- J.D. Chalmers and N. Roche are task force co-chairs
| | | | - Pieter C Goeminne
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, AZ Nikolaas, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
| | - Bin Cao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Lab, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Marc Humbert
- Service de Pneumologie et Soins Intensifs, Hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP); Université Paris-Saclay; Inserm UMR_S 999, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Michal Shteinberg
- Pulmonology institute and CF Center, Carmel Medical Center and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Katerina M Antoniou
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Pneumonology, Department of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Charlotte Suppli Ulrik
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital-Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | | | - Chen Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Diseases, Beijing, China
| | | | - Jieming Qu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Daiana Stolz
- Clinic of Respiratory Medicine and Pulmonary Cell Research, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Clinic of Respiratory Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Tobias Welte
- Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Direktor der Abteilung Pneumologie, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefano Aliberti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Respiratory Unit, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Anita K Simonds
- Sleep and Ventilation Unit, Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital, Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Thomy Tonia
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Roche
- Respiratory Medicine, Cochin Hospital, APHP Centre-University of Paris, Cochin Institute (INSERM UMR1016), Paris, France
- J.D. Chalmers and N. Roche are task force co-chairs
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Ghosn L, Chaimani A, Evrenoglou T, Davidson M, Graña C, Schmucker C, Bollig C, Henschke N, Sguassero Y, Nejstgaard CH, Menon S, Nguyen TV, Ferrand G, Kapp P, Riveros C, Ávila C, Devane D, Meerpohl JJ, Rada G, Hróbjartsson A, Grasselli G, Tovey D, Ravaud P, Boutron I. Interleukin-6 blocking agents for treating COVID-19: a living systematic review. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021; 3:CD013881. [PMID: 33734435 PMCID: PMC8406988 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interleukin 6 (IL-6) blocking agents have been used for treating severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Their immunosuppressive effect might be valuable in patients with COVID-19 characterised by substantial immune system dysfunction by controlling inflammation and promoting disease tolerance. OBJECTIVES To assess the effect of IL-6 blocking agents compared to standard care alone or with placebo on efficacy and safety outcomes in COVID-19. We will update this assessment regularly. SEARCH METHODS We searched the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (up to 11 February 2021) and the L-OVE platform, and Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register to identify trials up to 26 February 2021. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating IL-6 blocking agents compared with standard care alone or with placebo for people with COVID-19, regardless of disease severity. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We followed standard Cochrane methodology. The protocol was amended to reduce the number of outcomes considered. Two review authors independently collected data and assessed the risk of bias with the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. We rated the certainty of evidence with the GRADE approach for the critical outcomes such as clinical improvement (defined as hospital discharge or improvement on the scale used by trialists to evaluate clinical progression or recovery) (day (D) 28 / ≥ D60); WHO Clinical Progression Score of level 7 or above (i.e. the proportion of participants with mechanical ventilation +/- additional organ support OR death) (D28 / ≥ D60); all-cause mortality (D28 / ≥ D60); incidence of any adverse events; and incidence of serious adverse events. MAIN RESULTS We identified 10 RCTs with available data including one platform trial comparing tocilizumab and sarilumab with standard of care. These trials evaluated tocilizumab (nine RCTs including two platform trials; seven were reported as peer-reviewed articles, two as preprints; 6428 randomised participants); and two sarilumab (one platform trial reported as peer reviewed article, one reported as preprint, 880 randomised participants). All trials included were multicentre trials. They were conducted in Brazil, China, France, Italy, UK, USA, and four were multi-country trials. The mean age range of participants ranged from 56 to 65 years; 4572 (66.3%) of trial participants were male. Disease severity ranged from mild to critical disease. The reported proportion of participants on oxygen at baseline but not intubated varied from 56% to 100% where reported. Five trials reported the inclusion of intubated patients at baseline. We identified a further 20 registered RCTs of tocilizumab compared to placebo/standard care (five completed without available results, five terminated without available results, eight ongoing, two not recruiting); 11 RCTs of sarilumab (two completed without results, three terminated without available results, six ongoing); six RCTs of clazakisumab (five ongoing, one not recruiting); two RCTs of olokizumab (one completed, one not recruiting); one of siltuximab (ongoing) and one RCT of levilimab (completed without available results). Of note, three were cancelled (2 tocilizumab, 1 clazakisumab). One multiple-arm RCT evaluated both tocilizumab and sarilumab compared to standard of care, one three-arm RCT evaluated tocilizumab and siltuximab compared to standard of care and consequently they appear in each respective comparison. Tocilizumab versus standard care alone or with placebo a. Effectiveness of tocilizumab for patients with COVID-19 Tocilizumab probably results in little or no increase in the outcome of clinical improvement at D28 (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.13; I2 = 40.9%; 7 RCTs, 5585 participants; absolute effect: 31 more with clinical improvement per 1000 (from 0 fewer to 67 more); moderate-certainty evidence). However, we cannot exclude that some subgroups of patients could benefit from the treatment. We did not obtain data for longer-term follow-up (≥ D60). The effect of tocilizumab on the proportion of participants with a WHO Clinical Progression Score of level of 7 or above is uncertain at D28 (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.74; I2 = 64.4%; 3 RCTs, 712 participants; low-certainty evidence). We did not obtain data for longer-term follow-up (≥ D60). Tocilizumab reduces all-cause mortality at D28 compared to standard care alone or placebo (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.97; I2 = 0.0%; 8 RCTs, 6363 participants; absolute effect: 32 fewer deaths per 1000 (from 52 fewer to 9 fewer); high-certainty evidence). The evidence suggests uncertainty around the effect on mortality at ≥ D60 (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.40; I2 = 0.0%; 2 RCTs, 519 participants; low-certainty evidence). b. Safety of tocilizumab for patients with COVID-19 The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of tocilizumab on adverse events (RR 1.23, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.72; I2 = 86.4%; 7 RCTs, 1534 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Nevertheless, tocilizumab probably results in slightly fewer serious adverse events than standard care alone or placebo (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.06; I2 = 0.0%; 8 RCTs, 2312 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Sarilumab versus standard care alone or with placebo The evidence is uncertain about the effect of sarilumab on all-cause mortality at D28 (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.43 to 1.36; 2 RCTs, 880 participants; low certainty), on all-cause mortality at ≥ D60 (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.0; 1 RCT, 420 participants; low certainty), and serious adverse events (RR 1.17, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.77; 2 RCTs, 880 participants; low certainty). It is unlikely that sarilumab results in an important increase of adverse events (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.25; 1 RCT, 420 participants; moderate certainty). However, an increase cannot be excluded No data were available for other critical outcomes. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS On average, tocilizumab reduces all-cause mortality at D28 compared to standard care alone or placebo and probably results in slightly fewer serious adverse events than standard care alone or placebo. Nevertheless, tocilizumab probably results in little or no increase in the outcome clinical improvement (defined as hospital discharge or improvement measured by trialist-defined scales) at D28. The impact of tocilizumab on other outcomes is uncertain or very uncertain. With the data available, we were not able to explore heterogeneity. Individual patient data meta-analyses are needed to be able to identify which patients are more likely to benefit from this treatment. Evidence for an effect of sarilumab is uncertain and evidence for other anti-IL6 agents is unavailable. Thirty-nine RCTs of IL-6 blocking agents with no results are currently registered, of which nine are completed and seven trials were terminated with no results available. The findings of this review will be updated as new data are made available on the COVID-NMA platform (covid-nma.com).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Ghosn
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Centre d'Épidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP (Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris), Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Anna Chaimani
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Theodoros Evrenoglou
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Mauricia Davidson
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Centre d'Épidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP (Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris), Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Carolina Graña
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Centre d'Épidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP (Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris), Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Christine Schmucker
- Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine (for Cochrane Germany Foundation), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Bollig
- Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine (for Cochrane Germany Foundation), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Camilla Hansen Nejstgaard
- Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Odense (CEBMO) and Cochrane Denmark, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Open Patient data Explorative Network (OPEN), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Sonia Menon
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Centre d'Épidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP (Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris), Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Thu Van Nguyen
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Gabriel Ferrand
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Centre d'Épidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP (Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris), Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Philipp Kapp
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Centre d'Épidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP (Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris), Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Carolina Riveros
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Centre d'Épidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP (Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris), Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France
| | | | - Declan Devane
- HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Evidence Synthesis Ireland and Cochrane Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Joerg J Meerpohl
- Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine (for Cochrane Germany Foundation), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gabriel Rada
- Epistemonikos Foundation, Santiago, Chile
- UC Evidence Center, Cochrane Chile Associated Center, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Asbjørn Hróbjartsson
- Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Odense (CEBMO) and Cochrane Denmark, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Open Patient data Explorative Network (OPEN), Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Giacomo Grasselli
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Emergency, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Philippe Ravaud
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Centre d'Épidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP (Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris), Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Boutron
- Cochrane France, Paris, France
- Centre d'Épidémiologie Clinique, AP-HP (Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris), Hôpital Hôtel Dieu, Paris, France
- Université de Paris, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics (CRESS), INSERM, F-75004, Paris, France
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Welte T, Ambrose LJ, Sibbring GC, Sheikh S, Müllerová H, Sabir I. Current evidence for COVID-19 therapies: a systematic literature review. Eur Respir Rev 2021; 30:30/159/200384. [PMID: 33731328 PMCID: PMC9489065 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0384-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective therapeutic interventions for the treatment and prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are urgently needed. A systematic review was conducted to identify clinical trials of pharmacological interventions for COVID-19 published between 1 December 2019 and 14 October 2020. Data regarding efficacy of interventions, in terms of mortality, hospitalisation and need for ventilation, were extracted from identified studies and synthesised qualitatively. In total, 42 clinical trials were included. Interventions assessed included antiviral, mucolytic, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory therapies. Some reductions in mortality, hospitalisation and need for ventilation were seen with interferons and remdesivir, particularly when administered early, and with the mucolytic drug, bromhexine. Most studies of lopinavir/ritonavir and hydroxychloroquine did not show significant efficacy over standard care/placebo. Dexamethasone significantly reduced mortality, hospitalisation and need for ventilation versus standard care, particularly in patients with severe disease. Evidence for other classes of interventions was limited. Many trials had a moderate-to-high risk of bias, particularly in terms of blinding; most were short-term and some included low patient numbers.This review highlights the need for well-designed clinical trials of therapeutic interventions for COVID-19 to increase the quality of available evidence. It also emphasises the importance of tailoring interventions to disease stage and severity for maximum efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Welte
- Dept of Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases, Hannover University School of Medicine, Germany
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Mangoni AA, Erre GL. Translating evidence into practice during the COVID-19 pandemic: pitfalls and mileages. Ther Adv Drug Saf 2021; 12:2042098621998876. [PMID: 33796258 PMCID: PMC7968020 DOI: 10.1177/2042098621998876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Arduino A. Mangoni
- Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Gian Luca Erre
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari, Italy, and Dipartimento di Specialità Mediche, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Sassari, Sassari, Italy
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Juul S, Nielsen EE, Feinberg J, Siddiqui F, Jørgensen CK, Barot E, Holgersson J, Nielsen N, Bentzer P, Veroniki AA, Thabane L, Bu F, Klingenberg S, Gluud C, Jakobsen JC. Interventions for treatment of COVID-19: Second edition of a living systematic review with meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses (The LIVING Project). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248132. [PMID: 33705495 PMCID: PMC7954033 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 is a rapidly spreading disease that has caused extensive burden to individuals, families, countries, and the world. Effective treatments of COVID-19 are urgently needed. This is the second edition of a living systematic review of randomized clinical trials assessing the effects of all treatment interventions for participants in all age groups with COVID-19. METHODS AND FINDINGS We planned to conduct aggregate data meta-analyses, trial sequential analyses, network meta-analysis, and individual patient data meta-analyses. Our systematic review was based on PRISMA and Cochrane guidelines, and our eight-step procedure for better validation of clinical significance of meta-analysis results. We performed both fixed-effect and random-effects meta-analyses. Primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and serious adverse events. Secondary outcomes were admission to intensive care, mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, quality of life, and non-serious adverse events. According to the number of outcome comparisons, we adjusted our threshold for significance to p = 0.033. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence. We searched relevant databases and websites for published and unpublished trials until November 2, 2020. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed trial methodology. We included 82 randomized clinical trials enrolling a total of 40,249 participants. 81 out of 82 trials were at overall high risk of bias. Meta-analyses showed no evidence of a difference between corticosteroids versus control on all-cause mortality (risk ratio [RR] 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79 to 1.00; p = 0.05; I2 = 23.1%; eight trials; very low certainty), on serious adverse events (RR 0.89; 95% CI 0.80 to 0.99; p = 0.04; I2 = 39.1%; eight trials; very low certainty), and on mechanical ventilation (RR 0.86; 95% CI 0.55 to 1.33; p = 0.49; I2 = 55.3%; two trials; very low certainty). The fixed-effect meta-analyses showed indications of beneficial effects. Trial sequential analyses showed that the required information size for all three analyses was not reached. Meta-analysis (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.82 to 1.07; p = 0.31; I2 = 0%; four trials; moderate certainty) and trial sequential analysis (boundary for futility crossed) showed that we could reject that remdesivir versus control reduced the risk of death by 20%. Meta-analysis (RR 0.82; 95% CI 0.68 to 1.00; p = 0.05; I2 = 38.9%; four trials; very low certainty) and trial sequential analysis (required information size not reached) showed no evidence of difference between remdesivir versus control on serious adverse events. Fixed-effect meta-analysis showed indications of a beneficial effect of remdesivir on serious adverse events. Meta-analysis (RR 0.40; 95% CI 0.19 to 0.87; p = 0.02; I2 = 0%; two trials; very low certainty) showed evidence of a beneficial effect of intravenous immunoglobulin versus control on all-cause mortality, but trial sequential analysis (required information size not reached) showed that the result was severely underpowered to confirm or reject realistic intervention effects. Meta-analysis (RR 0.63; 95% CI 0.35 to 1.14; p = 0.12; I2 = 77.4%; five trials; very low certainty) and trial sequential analysis (required information size not reached) showed no evidence of a difference between tocilizumab versus control on serious adverse events. Fixed-effect meta-analysis showed indications of a beneficial effect of tocilizumab on serious adverse events. Meta-analysis (RR 0.70; 95% CI 0.51 to 0.96; p = 0.02; I2 = 0%; three trials; very low certainty) showed evidence of a beneficial effect of tocilizumab versus control on mechanical ventilation, but trial sequential analysis (required information size not reached) showed that the result was severely underpowered to confirm of reject realistic intervention effects. Meta-analysis (RR 0.32; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.69; p < 0.00; I2 = 0%; two trials; very low certainty) showed evidence of a beneficial effect of bromhexine versus standard care on non-serious adverse events, but trial sequential analysis (required information size not reached) showed that the result was severely underpowered to confirm or reject realistic intervention effects. Meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses (boundary for futility crossed) showed that we could reject that hydroxychloroquine versus control reduced the risk of death and serious adverse events by 20%. Meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses (boundary for futility crossed) showed that we could reject that lopinavir-ritonavir versus control reduced the risk of death, serious adverse events, and mechanical ventilation by 20%. All remaining outcome comparisons showed that we did not have enough information to confirm or reject realistic intervention effects. Nine single trials showed statistically significant results on our outcomes, but were underpowered to confirm or reject realistic intervention effects. Due to lack of data, it was not relevant to perform network meta-analysis or possible to perform individual patient data meta-analyses. CONCLUSIONS No evidence-based treatment for COVID-19 currently exists. Very low certainty evidence indicates that corticosteroids might reduce the risk of death, serious adverse events, and mechanical ventilation; that remdesivir might reduce the risk of serious adverse events; that intravenous immunoglobin might reduce the risk of death and serious adverse events; that tocilizumab might reduce the risk of serious adverse events and mechanical ventilation; and that bromhexine might reduce the risk of non-serious adverse events. More trials with low risks of bias and random errors are urgently needed. This review will continuously inform best practice in treatment and clinical research of COVID-19. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42020178787.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Juul
- Copenhagen Trial Unit–Centre for Clinical Intervention Research,
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen,
Denmark
| | - Emil Eik Nielsen
- Copenhagen Trial Unit–Centre for Clinical Intervention Research,
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen,
Denmark
- Department of Internal Medicine–Cardiology Section, Holbæk Hospital,
Holbæk, Denmark
| | - Joshua Feinberg
- Copenhagen Trial Unit–Centre for Clinical Intervention Research,
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen,
Denmark
| | - Faiza Siddiqui
- Copenhagen Trial Unit–Centre for Clinical Intervention Research,
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen,
Denmark
| | - Caroline Kamp Jørgensen
- Copenhagen Trial Unit–Centre for Clinical Intervention Research,
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen,
Denmark
| | - Emily Barot
- Copenhagen Trial Unit–Centre for Clinical Intervention Research,
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen,
Denmark
| | - Johan Holgersson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Anesthesia & Intensive Care,
Helsingborg Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Niklas Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Anesthesia & Intensive Care,
Helsingborg Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Peter Bentzer
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Anesthesia & Intensive Care,
Helsingborg Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Areti Angeliki Veroniki
- Department of Primary Education, School of Education, University of
Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
- Knowledge Translation Program, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St.
Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lehana Thabane
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster
University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Fanlong Bu
- Centre for Evidence-based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese
Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Sarah Klingenberg
- Copenhagen Trial Unit–Centre for Clinical Intervention Research,
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen,
Denmark
| | - Christian Gluud
- Copenhagen Trial Unit–Centre for Clinical Intervention Research,
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen,
Denmark
| | - Janus Christian Jakobsen
- Copenhagen Trial Unit–Centre for Clinical Intervention Research,
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen,
Denmark
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense,
Denmark
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38
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Janda A, Schuetz C, Canna S, Gorelik M, Heeg M, Minden K, Hinze C, Schulz A, Debatin KM, Hedrich CM, Speth F. Therapeutic approaches to pediatric COVID-19: an online survey of pediatric rheumatologists. Rheumatol Int 2021; 41:911-920. [PMID: 33683393 PMCID: PMC7938886 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-021-04824-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Data on therapy of COVID-19 in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed children are scarce. We aimed to explore management strategies of pediatric rheumatologists. All subscribers to international Pediatric Rheumatology Bulletin Board were invited to take part in an online survey on therapeutic approaches to COVID-19 in healthy children and children with autoimmune/inflammatory diseases (AID). Off-label therapies would be considered by 90.3% of the 93 participating respondents. In stable patients with COVID-19 on oxygen supply (stage I), use of remdesivir (48.3%), azithromycin (26.6%), oral corticosteroids (25.4%) and/or hydroxychloroquine (21.9%) would be recommended. In case of early signs of “cytokine storm” (stage II) or in critically ill patients (stage III) (a) anakinra (79.5% stage II; 83.6% stage III) or tocilizumab (58.0% and 87.0%, respectively); (b) corticosteroids (oral 67.2% stage II, intravenously 81.7% stage III); (c) intravenous immunoglobulins (both stages 56.5%); or (d) remdesivir (both stages 46.7%) were considered. In AID, > 94.2% of the respondents would not support a preventive adaptation of the immunomodulating therapy. In case of mild COVID-19, more than 50% of the respondents would continue pre-existing treatment with immunoglobulins (100%), hydroxychloroquine (94.2%), anakinra (79.2%) or canakinumab (72.5%), or tocilizumab (69.8%). Long-term corticosteroids would be reduced by 26.9% (< = 2 mg/kg/d) and 50.0% (> 2 mg/kg/day), respectively, with only 5.8% of respondents voting to discontinue the therapy. Conversely, more than 75% of respondents would refrain from administering cyclophosphamide and anti-CD20-antibodies. As evidence on management of pediatric COVID-19 is incomplete, continuous and critical expert opinion and knowledge exchange is helpful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ales Janda
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Eythstrasse 24, 89075, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Catharina Schuetz
- Department of Pediatrics, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Scott Canna
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mark Gorelik
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Childrens Hospital of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maximilian Heeg
- Institute for Immunodeficiency, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Minden
- Charité University Medicine Berlin, German Rheumatism Research Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claas Hinze
- University Hospital Munster, Munster, Germany
| | - Ansgar Schulz
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Eythstrasse 24, 89075, Ulm, Germany
| | - Klaus-Michael Debatin
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Eythstrasse 24, 89075, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian M Hedrich
- Department of Women's & Children's Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool & Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Alder Hey Childrens NHS Foundation Trust Hospital, Liverpool, Great Britain
| | - Fabian Speth
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immunology Unit, Center for Obstetrics and Pediatrics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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39
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Aviani JK, Halim D, Soeroto AY, Achmad TH, Djuwantono T. Current views on the potentials of convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) as Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on recent studies and previous respiratory pandemics. Rev Med Virol 2021; 31:e2225. [PMID: 33621405 PMCID: PMC8014133 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) has been investigated as a treatment for COVID-19. This review evaluates CPT in COVID-19 and other viral respiratory diseases, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and influenza. PubMed and Google scholar databases were used to collect eligible publications until 8 December 2020. Meta-analysis used Mantel-Haenszel risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and pooled analysis for individual patient data with inverse variance weighted average. The study is registered at PROSPERO with the number of CRD4200270579. Forty-four studies with 36,716 participants were included in the pooled analysis and 20 studies in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed reduction of mortality (RR 0.57, 95% CI [0.43, 0.76], z = 3.86 [p < 0.001], I2 = 44% [p = 0.03]) and higher number of discharged patients (RR 2.53, 95% CI [1.72, 3.72], z = 4.70 [p < 0.001], I2 = 3% [p = 0.39]) in patients receiving CPT compared to standard care alone. A possible mechanism of action is prompt reduction in viral titre. Serious transfusion-related adverse events were reported to be less than 1% of cases, suggesting the overall safety of CPT; nevertheless, the number of patients participating in the studies was still limited. It is also important to notice that in all the studies, the majority of patients were also given other medications, such as antivirals, antibiotics and corticosteroid; furthermore, randomized controlled studies involving more patients and in combination with other treatment modalities are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenifer Kiem Aviani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Padjadjaran University/Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.,Bandung Fertility Center, Limijati Mother and Child Hospital, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Danny Halim
- Research Center for Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Padjadjaran University, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Arto Yuwono Soeroto
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Padjadjaran University / Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Tri Hanggono Achmad
- Research Center for Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Padjadjaran University, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.,Department of Basic Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Padjadjaran University, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Tono Djuwantono
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Padjadjaran University/Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.,Bandung Fertility Center, Limijati Mother and Child Hospital, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
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40
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Natanegara F, Zariffa N, Buenconsejo J, Ran Liao, Cooner F, Lakshminarayanan D, Ghosh S, Schindler JS, Gamalo M. Statistical Opportunities to Accelerate Development for COVID-19 Therapeutics. Stat Biopharm Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/19466315.2020.1865195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fanni Natanegara
- Research and Development – Statistics, Eli Lilly and Co, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Joan Buenconsejo
- Biometrics, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Ran Liao
- Research and Development – Statistics, Eli Lilly and Co, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Freda Cooner
- Center for Design and Analysis, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Divya Lakshminarayanan
- Clinical Statistics, COVID-19, Biostatistics R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Samiran Ghosh
- Department of Family Medicine & Public Health Sciences and Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | | | - Margaret Gamalo
- Research and Development – Statistics, Eli Lilly and Co, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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41
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Franchini M, Liumbruno GM. Convalescent Plasma for the Treatment of Severe COVID-19. Biologics 2021; 15:31-38. [PMID: 33574654 PMCID: PMC7871873 DOI: 10.2147/btt.s272063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 is one of the worst catastrophic events in human history. Several non-specific antiviral drugs have been tried to defeat the SARS-CoV-2, with mixed results. Convalescent plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 is one of the specific biologic therapies being considered to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. Preliminary studies have shown that convalescent plasma, containing antibodies able to neutralize SARS-CoV-2, is promising in blocking viral replication and improving patients’ clinical symptoms. The results of several ongoing randomized controlled trials are, however, keenly awaited to definitively elucidate the safety and efficacy of this blood component in COVID-19. In this narrative review, we summarize the current evidence from the literature on the treatment of severe COVID-19 with convalescent plasma. A concise overview of the hypothesized mechanisms of action is also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Franchini
- Department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Carlo Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy
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42
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Santana MVS, Silva-Jr FP. De novo design and bioactivity prediction of SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors using recurrent neural network-based transfer learning. BMC Chem 2021; 15:8. [PMID: 33531083 PMCID: PMC7852053 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-021-00737-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The global pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) created a rush to discover drug candidates. Despite the efforts, so far no vaccine or drug has been approved for treatment. Artificial intelligence offers solutions that could accelerate the discovery and optimization of new antivirals, especially in the current scenario dominated by the scarcity of compounds active against SARS-CoV-2. The main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is an attractive target for drug discovery due to the absence in humans and the essential role in viral replication. In this work, we developed a deep learning platform for de novo design of putative inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). Our methodology consists of 3 main steps: (1) training and validation of general chemistry-based generative model; (2) fine-tuning of the generative model for the chemical space of SARS-CoV- Mpro inhibitors and (3) training of a classifier for bioactivity prediction using transfer learning. The fine-tuned chemical model generated > 90% valid, diverse and novel (not present on the training set) structures. The generated molecules showed a good overlap with Mpro chemical space, displaying similar physicochemical properties and chemical structures. In addition, novel scaffolds were also generated, showing the potential to explore new chemical series. The classification model outperformed the baseline area under the precision-recall curve, showing it can be used for prediction. In addition, the model also outperformed the freely available model Chemprop on an external test set of fragments screened against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, showing its potential to identify putative antivirals to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, among the top-20 predicted hits, we identified nine hits via molecular docking displaying binding poses and interactions similar to experimentally validated inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos V S Santana
- LaBECFar-Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Floriano P Silva-Jr
- LaBECFar-Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-900, Brazil.
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43
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Hoogenes B, Querée M, Townson A, Willms R, Eng JJ. COVID-19 and Spinal Cord Injury: Clinical Presentation, Clinical Course, and Clinical Outcomes: A Rapid Systematic Review. J Neurotrauma 2021; 38:1242-1250. [PMID: 33502924 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2020.7461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Persons living with spinal cord injury (SCI) are potentially at risk for severe COVID-19 disease given that they often have decreased lung capacity and may lack the ability to effectively evacuate their lungs. Known risk factors for negative outcomes after COVID-19, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, disproportionally affect people with SCI and raise concerns for the mortality risk among persons with SCI. A rapid systematic review of English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese literature on COVID-19 and SCI was performed using the keywords "spinal cord injury" and "COVID-19." We included studies that provided information on clinical presentation, characteristics, course, and outcomes of COVID-19 disease in SCI. We excluded studies on patients who did not have an SCI before severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection or did not report clinical information. We included 10 studies in total: nine studies with a total of 171 patients and a survey study of 783 healthcare professionals. Fever (74%), cough (52%), and dyspnea (33%) were the most frequently reported symptoms, and 63% showed abnormalities on X-ray imaging. In the included case series and reports (N = 31), only 1 patient required mechanical ventilation, but 3 patients died (10%). The mortality rate in a large registry study (N = 140) was 19%. Clinical presentation of COVID-19 in SCI patients was similar to the general population, and though adverse events and intensive care unit admission were low, the mortality rate was high (10-19%). No prognostic factors for severe disease or mortality could be identified. Registration (PROSPERO): CRD42020196565.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bob Hoogenes
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Rehabilitation Research Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Matthew Querée
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Rehabilitation Research Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Andrea Townson
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rhonda Willms
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Janice J Eng
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Rehabilitation Research Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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44
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Anderson SL, Bassetti M, Mangoni AA. Drugs in Context Editorial: Review of 2020 and what lies ahead in therapeutic interventions. Drugs Context 2021; 10:2020-12-10. [PMID: 33542739 PMCID: PMC7837369 DOI: 10.7573/dic.2020-12-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The year 2020 was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing with it unprecedented advancements in the fields of healthcare and therapeutic interventions as well as in vaccine and drug development. Nevertheless, several other advancements in various fields of medicine also deserve attention. Herein, the Senior Editors of Drugs in Context provide us with their expert opinion on the events of 2020 and what lies ahead in 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Anderson
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Matteo Bassetti
- Clinica Malattie Infettive, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino - IRCCS, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Arduino A Mangoni
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre, SA, Australia
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45
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Alper BS, Dehnbostel J, Afzal M, Subbian V, Soares A, Kunnamo I, Shahin K, McClure RC. Making science computable: Developing code systems for statistics, study design, and risk of bias. J Biomed Inform 2021; 115:103685. [PMID: 33486066 PMCID: PMC9387176 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbi.2021.103685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 crisis led a group of scientific and informatics experts to accelerate development of an infrastructure for electronic data exchange for the identification, processing, and reporting of scientific findings. The Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR®) standard which is overcoming the interoperability problems in health information exchange was extended to evidence-based medicine (EBM) knowledge with the EBMonFHIR project. A 13-step Code System Development Protocol was created in September 2020 to support global development of terminologies for exchange of scientific evidence. For Step 1, we assembled expert working groups with 55 people from 26 countries by October 2020. For Step 2, we identified 23 commonly used tools and systems for which the first version of code systems will be developed. For Step 3, a total of 368 non-redundant concepts were drafted to become display terms for four code systems (Statistic Type, Statistic Model, Study Design, Risk of Bias). Steps 4 through 13 will guide ongoing development and maintenance of these terminologies for scientific exchange. When completed, the code systems will facilitate identifying, processing, and reporting research results and the reliability of those results. More efficient and detailed scientific communication will reduce cost and burden and improve health outcomes, quality of life, and patient, caregiver, and healthcare professional satisfaction. We hope the achievements reached thus far will outlive COVID-19 and provide an infrastructure to make science computable for future generations. Anyone may join the effort at https://www.gps.health/covid19_knowledge_accelerator.html.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian S Alper
- Computable Publishing LLC, Ipswich, MA, United States.
| | | | | | | | | | - Ilkka Kunnamo
- Duodecim Medical Publications Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Khalid Shahin
- Computable Publishing LLC, Ipswich, MA, United States.
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46
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Han YJ, Lee KH, Yoon S, Nam SW, Ryu S, Seong D, Kim JS, Lee JY, Yang JW, Lee J, Koyanagi A, Hong SH, Dragioti E, Radua J, Smith L, Oh H, Ghayda RA, Kronbichler A, Effenberger M, Kresse D, Denicolò S, Kang W, Jacob L, Shin H, Shin JI. Treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a systematic review of in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:1207-1231. [PMID: 33391531 PMCID: PMC7738873 DOI: 10.7150/thno.48342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide and poses a threat to humanity. However, no specific therapy has been established for this disease yet. We conducted a systematic review to highlight therapeutic agents that might be effective in treating COVID-19. Methods: We searched Medline, Medrxiv.org, and reference lists of relevant publications to identify articles of in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies on treatments for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and COVID-19 published in English until the last update on October 11, 2020. Results: We included 36 studies on SARS, 30 studies on MERS, and 10 meta-analyses on SARS and MERS in this study. Through 12,200 title and 830 full-text screenings for COVID-19, eight in vitro studies, 46 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on 6,886 patients, and 29 meta-analyses were obtained and investigated. There was no therapeutic agent that consistently resulted in positive outcomes across SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. Remdesivir showed a therapeutic effect for COVID-19 in two RCTs involving the largest number of total participants (n = 1,461). Other therapies that showed an effect in at least two RCTs for COVID-19 were sofosbuvir/daclatasvir (n = 114), colchicine (n = 140), IFN-β1b (n = 193), and convalescent plasma therapy (n = 126). Conclusions: This review provides information to help establish treatment and research directions for COVID-19 based on currently available evidence. Further RCTs are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Joo Han
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Keum Hwa Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sojung Yoon
- Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seoung Wan Nam
- Department of Rheumatology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Seohyun Ryu
- Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dawon Seong
- Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Seok Kim
- Department of Nephrology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Young Lee
- Department of Nephrology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Won Yang
- Department of Nephrology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinhee Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ai Koyanagi
- Research and development unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu/CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,ICREA, Pg. Lluis Companys 23, 08010, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sung Hwi Hong
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, USA
| | - Elena Dragioti
- Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Joaquim Radua
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) and Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.,Centre for Psychiatric Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lee Smith
- The Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hans Oh
- School of Social Work, University of Southern California, CA, USA
| | - Ramy Abou Ghayda
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, USA.,Division of Urology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andreas Kronbichler
- Department of Internal Medicine IV (Nephrology and Hypertension), Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Maria Effenberger
- Department of Internal Medicine I (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology & Metabolism), Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Daniela Kresse
- Department of Internal Medicine, St. Johann County Hospital, St. Johann in Tirol, Austria
| | - Sara Denicolò
- Department of Internal Medicine IV (Nephrology and Hypertension), Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Woosun Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, IL, USA
| | - Louis Jacob
- Research and development unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu/CIBERSAM, Universitat de Barcelona, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
| | - Hanwul Shin
- Department of Nephrology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Il Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,✉ Corresponding author: Dr. Jae Il Shin MD PhD, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea. Tel: 82-2-2228-2050, Fax: 82-2-393-9118, E-mail:
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Fiolet T, Guihur A, Rebeaud ME, Mulot M, Peiffer-Smadja N, Mahamat-Saleh Y. Effect of hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin on the mortality of COVID-19 patients: authors' response. Clin Microbiol Infect 2021; 27:138-140. [PMID: 33080383 PMCID: PMC7568487 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Fiolet
- CESP (Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health), Faculté de Médecine-Université Paris-Sud, Faculté de Médecine-UVSQ, INSERM, Université Paris Saclay, 94 805, Villejuif, France; Gustave Roussy, F-94805, Villejuif, France.
| | - Anthony Guihur
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Mathieu Edouard Rebeaud
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthieu Mulot
- Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity, Faculty of Science, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Nathan Peiffer-Smadja
- Université de Paris, IAME, INSERM, F-75018 Paris, France; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, Imperial College London, London, UK; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, 75018, France
| | - Yahya Mahamat-Saleh
- CESP (Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health), Faculté de Médecine-Université Paris-Sud, Faculté de Médecine-UVSQ, INSERM, Université Paris Saclay, 94 805, Villejuif, France; Gustave Roussy, F-94805, Villejuif, France
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Correction: Interventions for treatment of COVID-19: A living systematic review with meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses (The LIVING Project). PLoS Med 2020; 17:e1003517. [PMID: 33373360 PMCID: PMC7771683 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003293.].
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Re: effect of hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin on the mortality of COVID-19 patients: author's response. Clin Microbiol Infect 2020; 27:920-921. [PMID: 33166647 PMCID: PMC7647442 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Johnson HM, Lewin AS, Ahmed CM. SOCS, Intrinsic Virulence Factors, and Treatment of COVID-19. Front Immunol 2020; 11:582102. [PMID: 33193390 PMCID: PMC7644869 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.582102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family of intracellular checkpoint inhibitors has received little recognition compared to other checkpoint inhibitors. Two members of this family, SOCS1 and SOCS3, are indispensable, since SOCS1 knockout in mice results in neonatal death due to interferon gamma (IFNγ) induced inflammatory disease, and SOCS3 knockout leads to embryonic lethality. We have shown that SOCS1 and SOCS3 (SOCS1/3) function as virus induced intrinsic virulence factors for influenza A virus, EMC virus, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), and vaccinia virus infections. Other viruses such as pathogenic pig enteric coronavirus and coronavirus induced severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) spike protein also induce SOCS virus intrinsic virulence factors. SOCS1/3 exert their viral virulence effect via inhibition of type I and type II interferon (IFN) function. Specifically, the SOCS bind to the activation loop of receptor-associated tyrosine kinases JAK2 and TYK2 through the SOCS kinase inhibitory region (KIR), which inhibits STAT transcription factor activation by the kinases. Activated STATs are required for IFN function. We have developed a small peptide antagonist of SOCS1/3 that blocks SOCS1/3 inhibitory activity and prevents virus pathogenesis. The antagonist, pJAK2(1001-1013), is comprised of the JAK2 activation loop, phosphorylated at tyrosine 1007 with a palmitate for cell penetration. The remarkable thing about SOCS1/3 is that it serves as a broad, simple tool of perhaps most pathogenic viruses to avoid innate host IFN defense. We suggest in this Perspective that SOCS1/3 antagonist is a simple counter measure to SOCS1/3 and should be an effective mechanism as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic against the COVID-19 pandemic that is caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard M. Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alfred S. Lewin
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Chulbul M. Ahmed
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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