February 26, 2021

An Updated Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of 25 Randomized Trials Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Treatments in COVID-19 Disease

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

Keywords (Tags): treatment

• A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials published between the beginning of the pandemic and September 2020 found that ten days of remdesivir compared to standard care was associated with a lower risk of death in patients with COVID-19. The review, which covered 25 trials evaluating 17 treatments among a total of 11,597 patients, also found that a five-day course of remdesivir was associated with a higher frequency of clinical improvement compared to standard care, and that remdesivir for either five or ten days, lopinavir/ritonavir, and dexamethasone reduced the risk of any severe adverse events by 52% compared to standard care. Of all the drugs tested, colchicine and high doses of hydroxychloroquine raised the most safety concerns. 

Diallo et al. (Feb 3, 2021). An Updated Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of 25 Randomized Trials Assessing the Efficacy and Safety of Treatments in COVID-19 Disease. Journal of Public Health Research. https://doi.org/10.4081/jphr.2021.1945