Efficacy and Safety of Azithromycin for the Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Background The lack of effective medications for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a trend of drug repurposing such as the case of azithromycin which shows immunomodulatory and anti-viral effect. Several clinical trials have shown conflicting results. It is currently unclear whether the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://e-trd.org/upload/pdf/trd-2021-0075.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818606394934296576 |
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| author | Ghea Mangkuliguna Glenardi Natalia Laurentius A. Pramono |
| author_facet | Ghea Mangkuliguna Glenardi Natalia Laurentius A. Pramono |
| author_sort | Ghea Mangkuliguna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The lack of effective medications for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a trend of drug repurposing such as the case of azithromycin which shows immunomodulatory and anti-viral effect. Several clinical trials have shown conflicting results. It is currently unclear whether the available evidence is in favor or against the use of azithromycin in COVID-19 patients. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of azithromycin in COVID-19 patients. Methods Four independent reviewers selected relevant studies from PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, and ProQuest published prior to March 2021. The protocol used in this study has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020224967). Results We included 17 studies and found that the mortality rate (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76–1.19), need of respiratory support (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.98–1.73), hospitalization rate (standardized mean difference, 0.12; 95% CI, −0.02 to 0.27), and intensive care unit transfer (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.79–1.86) of azithromycin-treated group did not differ significantly (p>0.05) from those of the control group. Azithromycin treatment did not significantly increase the risk of getting secondary infection (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.83–1.82), hypoglycemia (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.38–1.40), gastrointestinal problems (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.73–1.45) or electrocardiogram abnormalities (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.94–1.42). The overall quality of evidence ranged from low to very low. Conclusion Azithromycin did not result in a superior clinical improvement in COVID-19 patients, although it was well-tolerated and safe to use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T14:10:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-98851ea14a1a41b2aae4bf5d86a5aaf9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1738-3536 2005-6184 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T14:10:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-98851ea14a1a41b2aae4bf5d86a5aaf92022-12-21T22:28:48ZengThe Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory DiseasesTuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases1738-35362005-61842021-10-0184429931610.4046/trd.2021.00754579Efficacy and Safety of Azithromycin for the Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisGhea Mangkuliguna0Glenardi1Natalia2Laurentius A. Pramono3 School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, North Jakarta School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, North Jakarta School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, North Jakarta Department of Public Health and Nutrition, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, North JakartaBackground The lack of effective medications for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a trend of drug repurposing such as the case of azithromycin which shows immunomodulatory and anti-viral effect. Several clinical trials have shown conflicting results. It is currently unclear whether the available evidence is in favor or against the use of azithromycin in COVID-19 patients. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of azithromycin in COVID-19 patients. Methods Four independent reviewers selected relevant studies from PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, and ProQuest published prior to March 2021. The protocol used in this study has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020224967). Results We included 17 studies and found that the mortality rate (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76–1.19), need of respiratory support (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.98–1.73), hospitalization rate (standardized mean difference, 0.12; 95% CI, −0.02 to 0.27), and intensive care unit transfer (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.79–1.86) of azithromycin-treated group did not differ significantly (p>0.05) from those of the control group. Azithromycin treatment did not significantly increase the risk of getting secondary infection (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.83–1.82), hypoglycemia (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.38–1.40), gastrointestinal problems (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.73–1.45) or electrocardiogram abnormalities (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.94–1.42). The overall quality of evidence ranged from low to very low. Conclusion Azithromycin did not result in a superior clinical improvement in COVID-19 patients, although it was well-tolerated and safe to use.http://e-trd.org/upload/pdf/trd-2021-0075.pdfazithromycincovid-19meta-analysissystematic reviewtreatment |
| spellingShingle | Ghea Mangkuliguna Glenardi Natalia Laurentius A. Pramono Efficacy and Safety of Azithromycin for the Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases azithromycin covid-19 meta-analysis systematic review treatment |
| title | Efficacy and Safety of Azithromycin for the Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis |
| title_full | Efficacy and Safety of Azithromycin for the Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Efficacy and Safety of Azithromycin for the Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Efficacy and Safety of Azithromycin for the Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis |
| title_short | Efficacy and Safety of Azithromycin for the Treatment of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis |
| title_sort | efficacy and safety of azithromycin for the treatment of covid 19 a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | azithromycin covid-19 meta-analysis systematic review treatment |
| url | http://e-trd.org/upload/pdf/trd-2021-0075.pdf |
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