Nutritional Advice El Mondo
Objectives:
The COVID-19 causing coronavirus is an enveloped RNA virus that utilizes an enzyme RNA dependent RNA polymerase for its replication. Favipiravir (FVP) triphosphate, a purine nucleoside analog, inhibits that enzyme. Therefore, this review article has been conducted.
What is the efficacy and safety of the drug favipiravir as a treatment for COVID-19?
Study design:
This review article included 9 in the qualitative studies and 4 in the quantitative studies.
Results and conclusions:
The investigators found there was a significant clinical improvement in the favipiravir group on the 14th day compared to the control group [RR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.08 to 1.54].
The investigators found clinical deterioration rates were less likely in the favipiravir group though statistically not significant [OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.30 to 1.14] at the endpoint of study (7-15 days).
The investigators found the meta-analysis showed no significant differences between the 2 groups on viral clearance [day 14: RR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.84 to 1.33], non-invasive ventilation or oxygen requirement [OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.42 to 1.39] and adverse effects [OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.13 to 3.5].
The investigators concluded there is a significant clinical and radiological improvement following treatment with favipiravir in comparison to the standard of care with no significant differences on viral clearance, oxygen support requirement and side effect profiles.
Original title:
Favipiravir versus other antiviral or standard of care for COVID-19 treatment: a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis by Shrestha DB, Budhathoki P, […], Rashmi P.
Link:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32972430/
Additional information of El Mondo:
Find more information/studies on coronavirus right here.