Table 5.
Selected randomized controlled trials comparing the efficacy of ivermectin and control group(s).
| Randomized Controlled Trials | Patient Characteristics | Comparison groups | Number of patients included | Primary Outcome Measure | Main results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahmed et al. [50] | Laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection with fever, cough, or sore throat | Ivermectin vs. ivermectin+ doxycycline vs. placebo | 24 vs. 24 vs. 24 | Time to virologic clearance, measured on days 3, 7, and 14, then weekly until PCR result was negative | Shorter mean time to virologic clearance with ivermectin than placebo; 9.7 days vs. 12.7 days; p: 0.02, but not with ivermectin plus doxycycline; 11.5 days vs. 12.7 days p: 0.27 |
| Chachar et al. [48] | Mild and confirmed COVID-19 patients | Ivermectin vs. control | 25 vs. 25 | Symptoms reported on day 7 | Proportion of asymptomatic patients at day 7; 64% vs. 60%; p: 0.50 |
| Chaccour et al. [49] | Patients with non-severe confirmed COVID-19 | Ivermectin vs. placebo | 12 vs. 12 | Positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR result from an NP swab at day 7 post-treatment | 12 patients (100%) in both groups had a positive PCR (for gene N), and 11 of 12 who received ivermectin (92%) and 12 of 12 who received placebo (100%) had a positive PCR (for gene E); p: 1.0 for both comparisons |
| Hashim et al. [51] | Both outpatient and inpatient confirmed COVID-19 patients | Ivermectin plus doxycycline plus standard therapy vs. standard therapy alone | 70 vs. 70 | Mean recovery time | Mean, 10.1±5.3 vs. 17.9±6.8; p: <0.0001 |
| Elgazzar et al. [52] | Symptomatic and confirmed COVID-19 patients | Hydroxychloroquine (mild to moderate) vs. hydroxychloroquine (severe) vs. ivermectin (mild to moderate) vs. ivermectin (severe) | 100 vs. 100 vs. 100 vs. 100 | Clinical, laboratory improvement and/or 2 consecutive negative PCR results ≥ 48 hours apart | Mild or moderate disease, 74% vs. 99%; p< 0.001, Severe disease, 50% vs. 94%; p: <0.001 |
| López-Medina et al. [53] | Symptomatic and confirmed mild COVID-19 patients | Ivermectin vs. placebo | 200 vs. 200 | Time to resolution of symptoms within 21 day | 10 vs. 12 days; HR: 1.07; 95 CI, 0.87–1.32; p: 0.53 |
Abbreviations: COVID-19, coronavirus diseases 2019; HR; hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; NP, nasopharyngeal; PCR, polymerized chain reaction; SARS-CoV-2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2.