Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2021 Nov 6. doi: 10.1080/14787210.2022.2004120. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigated the usefulness of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors among hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Ovid MEDLINE were searched for RCTs published before September 7, 2021. Only RCTs that compared the clinical efficacy and safety of JAK inhibitors with other alternative treatments or placebos in the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were included.
RESULTS: Overall, patients receiving JAK inhibitors exhibited a lower 28-day mortality rate than the control group (risk ratio [RR], 0.60; 95% CI, 0.47-0.77; I2 = 0%). Compared with the control group, the study group also had a lower 14-day mortality rate (RR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.42-0.85; I2 = 0%), a higher rate of clinical improvement (RR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.09; I2 = 0%), and less need of mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (RR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.50-0.84; I2 = 0%). Finally, JAK inhibitor use was associated with a similar risk of adverse events and infections as that observed in the control group.
CONCLUSIONS: JAK inhibitors can help reduce mortality and improve clinical outcomes among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Additionally, JAK inhibitors can be used safely in this clinical entity.
PMID:34743661 | DOI:10.1080/14787210.2022.2004120