Nutritional Advice El Mondo
Objectives:
Do physical distancing, use of face mask and eye protection reduce risk of COVID-19 infection in health-care and non-health-care (e.g., community) settings?
Study design:
This review article included 172 observational studies across 16 countries and 6 continents, with no randomised controlled trials and 44 relevant comparative studies in health-care and non-health-care settings (n = 25,697 patients).
Results and conclusions:
The investigators found transmission of viruses was significantly lower with physical distancing of 1 m or more, compared with a distance of less than 1 m [pooled adjusted odds ratio = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.09 to 0.38 and risk difference = -10.2%, 95% CI = -11.5 to -7.5, n = 10,736, moderate certainty].
Protection was increased as distance was lengthened [change in relative risk = 2.02 per m, pinteraction = 0.041, moderate certainty].
The investigators found face mask use significantly resulted in a large reduction in risk of infection [pooled adjusted odds ratio = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.07 to 0.34 and risk difference = -14.3%, 95% CI = -15.9 to -10.7, n = 2,647, low certainty], with stronger associations with N95 or similar respirators compared with disposable surgical masks or similar [eg, reusable 12-16-layer cotton masks, pinteraction = 0.090, posterior probability > 95%, low certainty].
The investigators found eye protection was also significantly associated with less infection [pooled adjusted odds ratio = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.12 to 0.39 and risk difference = -10.6%, 95% CI = -12.5 to -7.7, n = 3,713, low certainty].
The investigators found unadjusted studies and subgroup and sensitivity analyses showed similar findings.
The investigators concluded that the findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis provide the best available evidence that current policies of at least 1 m physical distancing are associated with a large reduction in infection and distances of 2 m might be more effective. These data also suggest that wearing face masks protects people (both health-care workers and the general public) against infection by these coronaviruses and that eye protection could confer additional benefit. However, none of these interventions afforded complete protection from infection and their optimum role might need risk assessment and several contextual considerations. No randomised trials were identified for these interventions in COVID-19, SARS or MERS. Nevertheless, this systematic appraisal of currently best available evidence might inform interim guidance.
Original title:
Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis by Chu DK, Akl EA, […], Schünemann HJ.
Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7263814/
Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on coronavirus right here.