Table 1.
Study design characteristics and inclusion criteria for randomized controlled studies included in the meta-analysis
| Author | Country | Study design | SOC treatment | Tcz regimen | Recruitment | Inclusion criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Salvarani et al., 2021) | Italy | Open-label | H,A,S,L/R or D/C or D/R, Heparin | Two doses. 2nd dose 12 hrs later | NS | Covid-19 positive, fever, PaO2/FiO2 between 200 and 300, and/or CRP levels of >10mg/dL and/or CRP level increases to at least twice the admission value |
| (Salama et al., 2021) | USA, Africa | Double-blind | R*, S | Single dose with possibility of 2nd dose 8-24 hrs later | Within 48 hrs of hospital admission | Confirmed Covid-19 with radiologic features SpO2 <94% on room air |
| (Hermine et al., 2021) | France | Open-label | H,A,S,L/R OR R*, anticoagulants | Single dose with possibility of 2nd dose 48 hrs later | Within 72 hrs of COVID-19 diagnosis | Covid-19 positive and/or CT chest findings Moderate, severe or clinical pneumonia O2 >3L/min WHO-CPS score ≥ 5 |
| (Rosas et al., 2021) | Europe & North America | Double-blind | S, antivirals, convalescent plasma | Single dose with possibility of 2nd dose 8-24 hrs after 1st dose | NS | Covid-19 positive CXR or CT findings PaO2/FiO2 <300 and/or SpO2 <93% on room air |
| (Soin et al., 2021) | India | Open-label | S, R* | Single dose with possibility of 2nd dose 12-168 hrs later | NS | Confirmed Covid-19 Respiratory rate >24/min and SpO2 <95% on room air, or septic shock or ARDS |
| (Stone et al., 2020) | USA | Double-blind | H,S, antivirals | Single dose | Upon hospital admission | Covid-19 positive, fever Pulmonary infiltrates or need for supplemental oxygen. At least one of the following labs: CRP >50 mg/L, ferritin >500 ng/ml, D-dimer >1000 ng/ml, or LDH >250U/L |
| (Veiga et al., 2021) | Brazil | Open-label | H,A,S, heparin, antibiotics | Single dose | NS | Confirmed severe or critical Covid-19. Receiving supplemental O2 or receiving MV for <24 h before analysis. At least two of following: D-dimer >1000ng/mL, CRP >50 mg/L, ferritin >300 μg/L |
| (Gordon et al., 2021) | UK, USA, France | Open-label | S,H,R* | Single doze with possibility of 2nd 12 to 24 hrs later | Within 24hrs of ICU admission | Confirmed Covid-19, ICU admission or on respiratory or cardiovascular support |
| (Horby et al., 2021) | UK | Open-label | H,A,S,L/R | Single doze with possibility of 2nd doze 12-24 hrs later | Within 21 days of primary randomization | Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, SpO2 <92% on room air or receiving oxygen therapy, CRP ≥ 75mg/L |
H, Hydoxychloroquine; L/R, Lopinavir/Ritonavir;D/C, Darunavir/Covicostat; D/R, Darunavir/Ritonavir; R*, Remdesivir; F, Favipiravir, S, Steroid; A, Azithromycin; IFN, Interferon; TCZ, Tocilizumab; SOC, Standard of care; NS, Not specified.