Table 1.
Characteristics of included reviews.
| First author, date of publication/submission, study design | Scope of review | Types of included studies and total participants | Tool used to assess risk of bias | ROB summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarma (13 April 2020) [49] Design - SRMA |
Evaluation of safety and efficacy of HCQ alone or in combination | RCTs – 3 Observational – 4 Participants −1358 |
ROBINS‐I tool, Newcastle Ottawa Scale |
High risk of selection, performance and detection bias. Unclear risk of bias in attrition & reporting bias |
| Chowdhury (28 April 2020) [28] Design - SR |
To review the literature currently available regarding the clinical use of CQ and HCQ as treatment in COVID-19 | RCTs - 7 Total participants = 486 |
Cochrane ROB tool | High risk (randomization, allocation concealment, and overall risk). 3 RCTs, 2 single arm, 1 observational |
| Singh (7 May 2020) [50] Design - SRMA |
Efficacy of HCQ in COVID-19 subjects on viral clearance and death due to all causes. | RCTs = 5 (2 non-randomized CT Observational = 5 Total participants = 2042 |
Jadad checklist, ROBINS I tool, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale | 5/8 on Jadad checklist, Moderate quality on ROBINS I tool (n = 2), 7/8 on Newcastle-Ottawa Scale(n = 2) |
| Suranagi (13 May 2020) [51] Design - SR |
To systematically explore, analyse, rate the existing evidence of hydroxychloroquine in the light of published, unpublished and clinical trial data. | RCTs- 3 Observational – 5 Total participants - 2047 |
Oxford CEBM critical appraisal tool | Risk of bias was serious-very serious. Level of evidence quality/strength rating was GRADE level (low-very low) and CEBM level 2b–3b |
| Yang (14 May 2020) [52] Design – SRMA |
To demonstrate the significance of present evidence regarding benefits and safety of HCQ for treatment of COVID-19 | RCTs- 3 Observational – 2 Total participants - 677 |
The Modified Downs and Black risk assessment scale | The average Downs and Black score were 19, with a range between 18 and 22 |
| Rodrigo (16 May 2020) [53] Design – SR |
To summarize evidence from human clinical studies for using HCQ or CQ as antiviral agents for any viral infection 20 agents for any viral infection |
RCTs – 6 Total participants - 387 |
Cochrane risk of bias tool and Robbins | Average score (3–5 out of 7). Main types of bias were selection, reporting, performance and detection bias |
| Chacko (20 May 2020) [54] Design – SRMA |
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine among patients with COVID-19 infection. | RCTs – 3 Observational – 8 Total participants 4306 |
Cochrane risk of bias tool and Robbins-1 | Observational (3 low risk, 4 moderate, 1 high risk), RCT (risk of randomization bias, allocation bias and blinding) |
| Hernandez (27 May 2020) [30] Design – SR |
Summarize evidence about the benefits and harms of HCQ or CQ treatment or prophylaxis of (COVID-19). | RCT – 3 Observational – 20 Total participants - 4186 |
ROBINS-I and the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 | Either no information or some concerns of bias to critical risk of bias |
| Shamshirian (28 May 2020) [55] Design - SRMA |
A review to overcome the controversies about the effectiveness of HCQ against COVID-19 | RCTs – 14 Observational – 7 Total participants - 103 486 |
Jadad scale, ROBINS-I tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale | High risk of bias in randomization sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding and outcome assessment |
| Das (28 May 2020) [56] Design – SR |
Systematically review the therapeutic role of HCQ in COVID-19 | RCT – 4 Observational – 8 |
NOS, Cochrane ROB tool | High risk of bias in most included studies |
| Takla (30 May 2020) [31] Design – SR |
Clarify the strength of evidence for the relative efficacy and safety of CQ and HCQ treatment | RCTs- 4 Observational – 15 Total participants - 107 948 |
Checklist of Review Criteria - Task Force of Academic Medicine and GERIME committee | All the studies included scored 13 in the risk assessment criteria. “12 were judged to be of scientific rigour" |
| Jankelson (31 May 2020) [23] Design – SR |
Review risk of QT prolongation, torsades, ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death with short courses of CQ and HCQ in COVID-19 | RCTs – 5 Observational – 6 Total participants - 1515 |
None reported | Not reported |
| Wang (1 June 2020) [57] Design – SR |
Assess the published studies of Chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for the treatment of COVID-19 | RCTs – 10 Total participants - 1831 |
Not reported | Not reported |