Effect of BCG on Respiratory Complications Caused by COVID-19: A Scoping Review

Cristiane Giacomelli da Costa,1,* Mehrsa Jalalizadeh,1,* Reza Yadollahvandmiandoab,1 Keini Buosi,1 Leonardo O Reis1,2 1Department of UroScience, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas – UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; 2Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, PUC...

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Main Authors: Costa CGD, Jalalizadeh M, Yadollahvandmiandoab R, Buosi K, Reis LO
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2022-12-01
Series:International Journal of General Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/effect-of-bcg-on-respiratory-complications-caused-by-covid-19-a-scopin-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGM
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author Costa CGD
Jalalizadeh M
Yadollahvandmiandoab R
Buosi K
Reis LO
author_facet Costa CGD
Jalalizadeh M
Yadollahvandmiandoab R
Buosi K
Reis LO
author_sort Costa CGD
collection DOAJ
description Cristiane Giacomelli da Costa,1,* Mehrsa Jalalizadeh,1,* Reza Yadollahvandmiandoab,1 Keini Buosi,1 Leonardo O Reis1,2 1Department of UroScience, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas – UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; 2Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, PUC, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Leonardo O Reis, Department of UroScience, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, Tel +55 19 35217481, Email Reisleo@unicamp.brIntroduction: Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) has been shown to have protective effects against respiratory viruses. We conducted a scoping review of the literature to clarify the available evidence regarding the effect of BCG therapy in preventing respiratory complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Scopus, and Web of Science for related studies up to October 2022.Results: In total, 35 publications and trials were included. One animal study, two observational studies, and six finalized trials measured the effect of BCG administration on respiratory complications of COVID-19. The remaining publications included eight unfinished trials, 12 ecological studies, and six observational studies that did not directly measure respiratory complications but assessed overall mortality of the disease and were included as an adjunct to our study. All trials involved vaccinating adults to protect them against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and measured respiratory symptoms or the need for intensive respiratory support as the primary or secondary aim of the study. One trial that exclusively included at-risk adults between 18 and 60 years old showed a decreased chance of respiratory complications as the secondary outcome of the study. Another trial that exclusively evaluated this effect on the elderly (60 years and older) as the primary aim of the study reported no protective effect against respiratory complications. The remaining literature provided mostly inconclusive evidence.Conclusion: The majority of the literature on the protective effect of BCG against respiratory complications of COVID-19 is inconclusive.Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, pulmonary complication, respiratory system, immunotherapy, BCG, scoping review
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spelling doaj.art-5f75fb15f8524a28970ea5f1e78e44522022-12-29T17:48:03ZengDove Medical PressInternational Journal of General Medicine1178-70742022-12-01Volume 158727874180665Effect of BCG on Respiratory Complications Caused by COVID-19: A Scoping ReviewCosta CGDJalalizadeh MYadollahvandmiandoab RBuosi KReis LOCristiane Giacomelli da Costa,1,* Mehrsa Jalalizadeh,1,* Reza Yadollahvandmiandoab,1 Keini Buosi,1 Leonardo O Reis1,2 1Department of UroScience, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas – UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; 2Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, PUC, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Leonardo O Reis, Department of UroScience, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, Tel +55 19 35217481, Email Reisleo@unicamp.brIntroduction: Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) has been shown to have protective effects against respiratory viruses. We conducted a scoping review of the literature to clarify the available evidence regarding the effect of BCG therapy in preventing respiratory complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Scopus, and Web of Science for related studies up to October 2022.Results: In total, 35 publications and trials were included. One animal study, two observational studies, and six finalized trials measured the effect of BCG administration on respiratory complications of COVID-19. The remaining publications included eight unfinished trials, 12 ecological studies, and six observational studies that did not directly measure respiratory complications but assessed overall mortality of the disease and were included as an adjunct to our study. All trials involved vaccinating adults to protect them against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and measured respiratory symptoms or the need for intensive respiratory support as the primary or secondary aim of the study. One trial that exclusively included at-risk adults between 18 and 60 years old showed a decreased chance of respiratory complications as the secondary outcome of the study. Another trial that exclusively evaluated this effect on the elderly (60 years and older) as the primary aim of the study reported no protective effect against respiratory complications. The remaining literature provided mostly inconclusive evidence.Conclusion: The majority of the literature on the protective effect of BCG against respiratory complications of COVID-19 is inconclusive.Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, pulmonary complication, respiratory system, immunotherapy, BCG, scoping reviewhttps://www.dovepress.com/effect-of-bcg-on-respiratory-complications-caused-by-covid-19-a-scopin-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGMcovid-19sars-cov-2pulmonary complicationrespiratory systemimmunotherapybcgscoping review
spellingShingle Costa CGD
Jalalizadeh M
Yadollahvandmiandoab R
Buosi K
Reis LO
Effect of BCG on Respiratory Complications Caused by COVID-19: A Scoping Review
International Journal of General Medicine
covid-19
sars-cov-2
pulmonary complication
respiratory system
immunotherapy
bcg
scoping review
title Effect of BCG on Respiratory Complications Caused by COVID-19: A Scoping Review
title_full Effect of BCG on Respiratory Complications Caused by COVID-19: A Scoping Review
title_fullStr Effect of BCG on Respiratory Complications Caused by COVID-19: A Scoping Review
title_full_unstemmed Effect of BCG on Respiratory Complications Caused by COVID-19: A Scoping Review
title_short Effect of BCG on Respiratory Complications Caused by COVID-19: A Scoping Review
title_sort effect of bcg on respiratory complications caused by covid 19 a scoping review
topic covid-19
sars-cov-2
pulmonary complication
respiratory system
immunotherapy
bcg
scoping review
url https://www.dovepress.com/effect-of-bcg-on-respiratory-complications-caused-by-covid-19-a-scopin-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IJGM
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AT buosik effectofbcgonrespiratorycomplicationscausedbycovid19ascopingreview
AT reislo effectofbcgonrespiratorycomplicationscausedbycovid19ascopingreview