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Effectiveness of tocilizumab for treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients

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Created On: 01/04/2022

A systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore tocilizumab's efficacy for COVID-19 management.

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Key take away

In hospitalized adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection, adjunctive tocilizumab significantly reduced short-term mortality, composite outcome of mortality or mechanical ventilation, severe side effects, hospitalization, serious infection, time-to-hospital discharge, and incidence of mechanical ventilation.

Background

A systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore tocilizumab's efficacy for COVID-19 management.

Method

Databases like World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and EMBASE were comprehensively explored for well-conducted trials in which coronavirus-infected people were randomized to get usual care alone or tocilizumab + usual care.

For pooling studies, a random-effects meta-analysis model was utilized. With the aid of Review Manager, data assessment was carried out. In total, 11 studies with 6579 people were incorporated and randomly segregated into tocilizumab (n=3406) and control (n=3173) groups.

Result

The use of monoclonal antibody tocilizumab substantially decreased the 28 to 30-day mortality (relative risk [RR] = 0.89), time-to-hospital discharge (hazard ratio = 1.30), incidence of mechanical ventilation (RR = 0.79), composite outcome of mechanical ventilation or death (RR = 0.81), serious infection (RR = 0.61), number of severe adverse events (RR = 0.64), intensive care unit admission (RR = 0.64).

Conclusion

Tocilizumab supplementation is beneficial for the management of hospitalized adults diagnosed with COVID-19. However, additional studies are needed for determining the optimal dose.