Skip to main content
. 2022 Apr 20;2022:4240378. doi: 10.1155/2022/4240378

Table 2.

Description of study characteristics: cross-sectional and cohort studies.

S. no. Author, country Title Study duration in days Intervention group Comparator group Concomitant group Outcome measures Outcome measures applicable to this review
1 Stessel et al., Belgium Impact of implementation of an individualized thromboprophylaxis protocol in critically ill ICU patients with COVID-19: A longitudinal controlled before-after study. 52 Nadroparin calcium 2850 IU (preimplementation of protocol) Nadroparin calcium 2850 IU (postimplementation of protocol) (i) One-month mortality
(ii) Two-week and three-week mortality
(iii) Hospital length of stay
(i) One-month mortality
(ii) Two-week and three-week mortality
(iii) Hospital length of stay
2 Jonmarker et al., Sweden Dosing of thromboprophylaxis and mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients 56 (i) Tinzaparin or dalteparin low (2500–4500 IU tinzaparin or 2500–5000 IU dalteparin)
(ii) Tinzaparin or dalteparin medium (> 4500 IU but < 175 IU/kilogram, kg, of bodyweight tinzaparin or > 5000 IU but < 200 IU/kg of bodyweight dalteparin)
(iii) High dose (≥ 175 IU/kg of bodyweight tinzaparin or ≥ 200 IU/kg of bodyweight dalteparin)
(i) 28 days mortality
(ii) ICU stay
(iii) Thromboembolic events
(i) 28 days mortality
(ii) ICU stay
(iii) Thromboembolic events
3 Salton et al., Italy Prolonged low-dose methylprednisolone in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia 58 Methylprednisolone loading dose of 80 mg intravenously, followed by an infusion of 80 mg/d in 240 ml of normal saline at 10 ml/h for at least 8 days Standard of care (antibiotics, antivirals, vasopressors, and renal replacement therapy) (i) Mortality
(ii) Transfer to intensive care unit
(iii) Invasive mechanical ventilation
(i) Mortality
(ii) Transfer to intensive care unit
(iii) Invasive mechanical ventilation
4 Mutair et al., Saudi Arabia Clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory characteristics of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients in Saudi Arabia: An observational cohort study 31 Hydroxychloroquine in mild cases Hydroxychloroquine in moderate cases (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Azithromycin
(i) Oseltamivir
(iii) Vitamin C
(iv) Vitamin E
(v) Ceftriaxone
(vi) Enoxaparin
(i) Days of hospitalization
(ii) SARS-CoV-2 PCR negative
(iii) Treatment outcomes
(i) Days of hospitalization
(ii) SARS-CoV-2 PCR negative
(iii) Treatment outcomes
5 Annie et al., the United States Hydroxychloroquine in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: real-world experience assessing mortality 116 (i) Hydroxychloroquine alone
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin
Mortality Mortality
6 Arshad et al., the United States Treatment with hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and combination in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (i) Hydroxychloroquine alone
(ii) Azithromycin alone 500 mg once daily on day 1 followed by 250 mg once daily for the next 4 days.
(iii) Hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin
Neither treatment (i) Steroid
(ii) Tocilizumab
(i) Mortality
(ii) Hospital length of stay in days.
(i) Mortality
(ii) Hospital length of stay in days
7 Ashinyo et al., Ghana Clinical characteristics, treatment regimen, and duration of hospitalization among COVID-19 patients in Ghana: A retrospective cohort study 93 (i) Chloroquine + hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin
(iii) Hydroxychloroquine only
(iv) Azithromycin only
(v) Supportive treatment
Duration of hospitalization Duration of hospitalization
8 Ayerbe et al., Spain The association between treatment with heparin and survival in patients with COVID-19 55 (i) Heparin (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Azithromycin
(iii) Steroids
(iv) Tocilizumab
(v) Lopinavir with ritonavir
(vi) Oseltamivir
Mortality Mortality
9 Ayerbe et al., Spain The association of treatment with hydroxychloroquine and hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients 55 Hydroxychloroquine was dosed as 400 mg twice daily the first day, followed by 200 mg twice daily for 4–6 days. (i) Azithromycin
(ii) Steroids
(iii) Heparin
(iv) Tocilizumab
(v) Lopinavir with ritonavir
(vi) Oseltamivir
Mortality Mortality
10 Bartoletti et al., Italy Efficacy of corticosteroid treatment for hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19: A multicentre study 130 Corticosteroid ≥0.5 mg/kg of prednisone (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Lopinavir/ritonavir
(iii) Darunavir/ritonavir
(iv) Darunavir/cobicistat
(v) Remdesivir
(vi) Low-molecular-weight heparin
(vii) Other standard of care
Mortality Mortality
11 Camprubí et al., Spain Lack of efficacy of standard doses of ivermectin in severe COVID-19 patients 21 Ivermectin 200 μg/kg for 8–18 days No ivermectin (i) Tocilizumab
(ii) Steroids
(iii) Anakinra
(iv) Remdesivir
(v) Lopinavir/ritonavir
(vi) Hydroxychloroquine
(vii) Azithromycin
(viii) Beta-interferon
(ix) Hydroxychloroquine
(x) Azithromycin
Severe adverse events Severe adverse events
12 Canoglu et al., Turkey Therapeutic dosing of low-molecular-weight heparin may decrease mortality in patients with severe COVID-19 infection 51 Heparin prophylactic dose LMWH (0.5 mg/kg twice daily) Heparin therapeutic dose LMWH (1 mg/kg twice daily) (i) Favipiravir
(ii) Lopinavir-ritonavir
(iii) Supportive treatment
(i) Mortality
(ii) ICU admission
(iii) Hospital stay
(i) Mortality
(ii) ICU admission
(iii) Hospital stay
13 Catteau et al., Belgium Low-dose hydroxychloroquine therapy and mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A nationwide observational study of 8075 participants 72 Hydroxychloroquine 2400 mg over 5 days No hydroxychloroquine (i) Lopinavir/ritonavir
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine
(iii) Tocilizumab
(iv) Remdesivir
(v) Macrolides
(vi) Anakinra
(i) Mortality
(ii) Hospital stay
(iii) Invasive mechanical ventilation
(iv) Admission to ICU
(i) Mortality
(ii) Hospital stay
(iii) Invasive mechanical ventilation
(iv) Admission to ICU
14 Ana Fernández-Cruz, Spain A retrospective controlled cohort study of the impact of glucocorticoid treatment in SARS-CoV-2 infection mortality 35 Steroid No steroid (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Lopinavir-ritonavir
(iii) Azithromycin
(iv) Interferon
(v) Tocilizumab
(vi) Anakinra
Mortality Mortality
15 Freedberg et al., the United States Famotidine use is associated with improved clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A propensity score matched retrospective cohort study 56 Famotidine No famotidine Mortality or intubation Mortality or intubation
16 Geleris et al., United States Observational study of hydroxychloroquine in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 50 Hydroxychloroquine 600 mg twice on day 1 and then 400 mg daily for a median of 5 days No hydroxychloroquine (i) Systemic glucocorticoid
(ii) Anticoagulant or warfarin
(iii) Azithromycin
(iv) Antibiotic agent
(v) Tocilizumab
(vi) Remdesivir
Intubation or death Intubation or death
17 Berry et al., United States Hydroxychloroquine and tocilizumab therapy in COVID-19 patients: An observational study 66 (i) Hydroxychloroquine 800 mg on day 1 and 400 mg on days 2–5, followed by 200 mg TID
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin
(iii) Tocilizumab first dose 400 mg, followed by 800 mg
(i) Neither hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin
(ii) Azithromycin alone
(iii) No tocilizumab
For patients in tocilizumab/no tocilizumab group:
(i) Steroid
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine alone
(iii) Azithromycin alone
(iv) Azithromycin plus hydroxychloroquine
(i) Mortality
(ii) Adverse drug events
(i) Mortality
(ii) Adverse drug events
18 Karolyi et al., Austria Hydroxychloroquine versus lopinavir/ritonavir in severe COVID-19 patients 57 Hydroxychloroquine loading dose of 400 mg twice on the first day, followed by 200 mg twice daily Lopinavir/ritonavir 400 mg/100 mg administered twice daily Concomitant antibiotic (i) In-hospital mortality
(ii) Intensive care unit (ICU) admission
(iii) Length of stay
(iv) PCR (polymerase chain reaction) negativity
(v) Side effects of treatment
(i) In-hospital mortality
(ii) Intensive care unit (ICU) admission
(iii) Length of stay
(iv) PCR (polymerase chain reaction) negativity
(v) Side effects of treatment
19 Kirenga et al., Uganda Characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Uganda Hydroxychloroquine No hydroxychloroquine (i) Antibiotics (azithromycin, ampicillin/cloxacillin combination, and augmentin)
(ii) Vitamin C
(i) Admission to ICU
(ii) Mechanical ventilation
(iii) Death
(iv) Negative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) tests
(v) Length of hospitalization
(i) Admission to ICU
(ii) Mechanical ventilation
(iii) Death
(iv) Negative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) tests
(v) Length of hospitalization
20 Lagier et al., France Outcomes of 3737 COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin and other regimens in Marseille, France: A retrospective analysis 56 (i) Azithromycin + hydroxychloroquine >3 days (hydroxychloroquine 200 mg of oral hydroxychloroquine, 3 times daily for 10 days and 500 mg of oral azithromycin on day 1 followed by 250 mg daily for the next 4 days)
(ii) Other treatment (azithromycin-hydroxychloroquine for at least 3 days)
(iii) Azithromycin + hydroxychloroquine <3 days
(iv) Hydroxychloroquine alone
(v) Azithromycin alone
(vi) No azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine
(i) Death
(ii) Transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU)
(iii) ≥10 days of hospitalization
(iv) Viral shedding
(i) Death
(ii) Transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU)
(iii) ≥10 days of hospitalization
(iv) Viral shedding
21 Albertini et al., France Observational study on off-label use of tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19 16 Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg No tocilizumab (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Azithromycin
(i) Mortality
(ii) Mechanical ventilation
(iii) Length of stay
(iv) Adverse events
(i) Mortality
(ii) Mechanical ventilation
(iii) Length of stay
(iv) Adverse events
22 Almazrou et al., Saudi Arabia Comparing the impact of hydroxychloroquine-based regimens and standard treatment on COVID-19 patient outcomes: A retrospective cohort study 20 Hydroxychloroquine Standard care
(i) Oseltamivir
(ii) Azithromycin
(iii) Levofloxacin
(iv) Hydroxychloroquine
(v) Ceftriaxone
(vi) Piperacillin/tazobactam
(vii) Vancomycin
(viii) Cefuroxime
(ix) Doxycycline
(x) Tazocin
(xi) Moxifloxacin
(i) Hospital length of stay
(ii) Time in ICU, days
(iii) ICU admission
(iv) Mechanical ventilation
(i) Hospital length of stay
(ii) Time in ICU, days
(iii) ICU admission
(iv) Mechanical ventilation
23 Billet et al., the United States Anticoagulation in COVID-19: effect of enoxaparin, heparin, and apixaban on mortality 30 (i) Apixaban prophylaxis
(ii) Apixaban full therapy
(iii) Enoxaparin prophylaxis
(iv) Enoxaparin full therapy
(v) Unfractionated Heparin standard prophylaxis
(vi) Unfractionated heparin high prophylaxis
(vii) Unfractionated heparin full therapy
(i) Mortality
(ii) Respiratory support
(i) Mortality
(ii) Respiratory support
24 Capra et al., Italy Impact of low-dose tocilizumab on mortality rate in patients with COVID-19 related pneumonia Tocilizumab No tocilizumab Standard care
(i) Hydroxychloroquine 400 mg
(ii) Lopinavir 800 mg
(iii) Ritonavir 200 mg
Mortality Mortality
25 Mario Fernández‐Ruiz et al., Spain Tocilizumab for the treatment of adult patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: A single-center cohort study Tocilizumab (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Lopinavir
(iii) Ritonavir
(iv) Azithromycin
(v) Interferon
(vi) Corticosteroids
(i) Clinical improvement at day 7
(ii) Clinical improvement at day 14
(i) Clinical improvement at day 7
(ii) Clinical improvement at day 14
26 Gupta et al., the United States Association between early treatment with tocilizumab and mortality among critically ill patients with COVID-19 122 Tocilizumab patients received tocilizumab within 2 days of ICU admission Tocilizumab patients did not receive tocilizumab within 2 days of ICU admission (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Azithromycin
(iii) Corticosteroid
(iv) Anticoagulation
(i) Mortality
(ii) Adverse event
(i) Mortality
(ii) Adverse event
27 Kaminski et al., the United States Tocilizumab therapy for COVID-19: A comparison of subcutaneous and intravenous therapies 54 Tocilizumab, 400 mg IV Tocilizumab, subcutaneous dose of 324 mg (given as two simultaneous doses of 162 mg) (i) Hydroxychloroquine 400 mg twice for one day, followed by 200 mg twice a day for additional 4 days plus azithromycin 500 mg once, followed by 250 mg oral once daily for additional 4 days.
(ii) Tocilizumab therapy
(iii) Corticosteroids for 3–5 days
(i) Survival rate
(ii) Ventilatory status
(i) Survival rate
(ii) Ventilatory status
28 Kim et al., Korea Lopinavir-ritonavir versus hydroxychloroquine for viral clearance and clinical improvement in patients with mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 44 Lopinavir-ritonavir 400 and 100 mg twice daily Hydroxychloroquine 400 mg once daily (i) Antibiotic agent
(ii) Glucocorticoid
(iii) IV immunoglobulin
(i) Time to negative conversion of viral RNA
(ii) Time to clinical improvement
(iii) Adverse events
(i) Time to negative conversion of viral RNA
(ii) Time to clinical improvement
(iii) Adverse events
29 Lammers et al., Netherlands Early hydroxychloroquine but not chloroquine use reduces ICU admission in COVID-19 patients Hydroxychloroquine on day 1, 400 mg, and 400 mg after 12 hours, 200 mg BID on days 2–5 Chloroquine on 1st day 600 mg and 300 mg after 12 h, 300 mg BID on days 2–5 Azithromycin (i) Death
(ii) Transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU)
(i) Death
(ii) Transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU)
30 Lauriola et al., Italy Effect of combination therapy of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin on mortality in patients with COVID-19 (i) Azithromycin and hydroxychloroquine (hydroxychloroquine dose of 200 mg TID (alone or in combination) and azithromycin 500 mg QD for 10 days)
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine 200 mg TID
No treatment (standard care not specified) Mortality Mortality
31 Lee et al., the United States Remdesivir for the treatment of severe COVID-19: A community hospital's experience 111 Remdesivir 200 mg loading dose on day 1, followed by a 100 mg daily on days 2–5 (i) Antibiotics
(ii) Convalescent plasma
(iii) Dexamethasone
(i) Mortality
(ii) Length of stay
(iii) ICU admission
(i) Mortality
(ii) Length of stay
(iii) ICU admission
32 Yiming Li et al., China Corticosteroid therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19: A multicenter, retrospective study 62 Corticosteroids No corticosteroids (i) 90 days mortality
(ii) Viral clearance
(i) 90 days mortality
(ii) Viral clearance
33 Liu et al., China Clinical characteristics and corticosteroids application of different clinical types in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 121 (i) Corticosteroid
(ii) Methylprednisolone (1-2) mg/kg day general type, 1–5 mg/kg day severe type, and 1–4 mg/kg day critical type
No corticosteroids (i) Interferon-α (IFN-α)
(ii) Lopinavir/ritonavir
(i) Discharges
(ii) Mechanical ventilation
(iii) Intensive care unit (ICU) admission
(iv) Mortality
(i) Discharges
(ii) Mechanical ventilation
(iii) Intensive care unit (ICU) admission
(iv) Mortality
34 Gautret et al., France Clinical and microbiological effect of a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in 80 COVID-19 patients with at least a 6-day follow-up: A pilot observational study Hydroxychloroquine (200 mg of oral TID for 10 days) and azithromycin (500 mg on day 1 followed by 250 mg per day for 4 days) (i) Requiring oxygen therapy or transfer to the ICU after at least three days of treatment
(ii) Length of stay in the infectious diseases ward
(iii) Contagiousness as assessed by PCR and culture
(i) Requiring oxygen therapy or transfer to the ICU after at least three days of treatment
(ii) Length of stay in the infectious diseases ward
(iii) Contagiousness as assessed by PCR and culture
35 Yu et al., China Low dose of hydroxychloroquine reduces fatality of critically ill patients with COVID-19 Hydroxychloroquine oral 200 mg BID for 7–10 days Nonhydroxychloroquine (i) Lopinavir and ritonavir
(ii) Ribavirin
(iii) Intravenous immunoglobulin
(i) Mortality
(ii) Length of stay
(i) Mortality
(ii) Length of stay
36 Guaraldi et al., Italy Tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study (i) Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg IV (up to a maximum of 800 mg) in two infusions, 12 h apart, or subcutaneously at 162 mg administered in two simultaneous doses, one in each thigh (i.e., 324 mg in total)
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine
(iii) Azithromycin
(iv) Antiretrovirals
(v) Low-molecular-weight heparin
(i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Azithromycin
(iii) Antiretrovirals
(iv) Low-molecular-weight heparin
(v) Lopinavir-ritonavir
(i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Azithromycin
(iii) Antiretrovirals
(iv) Low-molecular-weight heparin
(v) Lopinavir-ritonavir
(i) Death
(ii) Invasive mechanical ventilation
(i) Death
(ii) Invasive mechanical ventilation
37 Grein et al., multicenter Compassionate use of remdesivir for patients with severe COVID-19 Remdesivir loading dose of 200 mg intravenously on day 1 plus 100 mg daily for the following 9 days Supportive care (i) Clinical improvement
(ii) Changes in oxygen support requirements
(iii) Adverse events
(iv) Death
(i) Clinical improvement
(ii) Changes in oxygen support requirements
(iii) Adverse events
(iv) Death
38 Alexis K. Okoh et al., the United States Tocilizumab use in COVID-19 associated pneumonia 61 Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg IV (maximum: 800 mg/dose) No tocilizumab Standard of care (i) Deescalation in oxygen therapy
(ii) In-hospital death
(iii) Septic shock
(iv) Acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring hemodialysis
(i) Deescalation in oxygen therapy
(ii) In-hospital death
(iii) Acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring hemodialysis
39 Shao et al., China Clinical efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in critical ill patients with COVID-19: A multicenter retrospective cohort study 122 IVIG 0.1–0.5 g/kg per day Non-IVIG (i) 28 days mortality
(ii) 60 days mortality
(iii) In‐hospital days
(iv) Total course of disease
(i) 28 days mortality
(ii) 60 days mortality
(iii) In‐hospital days
40 Kewan et al., the United States Tocilizumab for treatment of patients with severe COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study 61 Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg and received 400 mg tocilizumab as a 60 min single intravenous infusion No tocilizumab (i) Hydroxychloroquine with a loading dose of 400 mg twice daily followed by 200 mg BID for 5 days
(ii) Azithromycin 500 mg per day for 5 days
(iii) Steroid
(i) Intubated patients' improvement in oxygen support
(ii) Noninvasive oxygen support improvement in oxygen support
(iii) Clinical improvement among patients required mechanical ventilation
(iv) Length of stay in hospital
(v) Mortality
(i) Intubated patients' improvement in oxygen support
(ii) Noninvasive oxygen support improvement in oxygen support
(iii) Clinical improvement among patients required mechanical ventilation
(iv) Length of stay in hospital
(v) Mortality
41 Ramiro et al., Netherlands Historically controlled comparison of glucocorticoids with or without tocilizumab versus supportive care only in patients with COVID-19 associated cytokine storm syndrome: results of the CHIC study 92 (i) Methylprednisolone 250 mg intravenously on day 1, followed by MP 80 mg intravenously on days 2–5
(ii) Tocilizumab single dose 8mg/kg bodyweight intravenous, maximum 800 mg between day 2 and day 5
(i) Ceftriaxone 2 g every 24 hours for 7 days
(ii) Chloroquine 300 mg every 12 hours following a loading dose of 600 mg
(i) Clinical improvement
(ii) WHO ordinal scale
(iii) Hospital mortality
(iv) Mechanical ventilation
(v) Duration of hospitalization
(i) Clinical improvement
(ii) WHO ordinal scale
(iii) Hospital mortality
(iv) Mechanical ventilation
(v) Duration of hospitalization
42 Colaneri et al., Italy Tocilizumab for treatment of severe COVID-19 patients: preliminary results from SMAtteo COVID-19 Registry (SMACORE) 14 Tocilizumab 8 mg/kg (up to a maximum 800 mg per dose) IV repeated 12 hours plus standard of care Standard of care
(i) Hydroxychloroquine 200 mg BID
(ii) Azithromycin 500 mg once
(iii) Prophylactic dose of low weight heparin
(iv) Methylprednisolone (a tapered dose of 1 mg/kg up to a maximum of 80 mg) for 10 days
(i) ICU admission
(ii) 7 days mortality rate
(iii) Clinical and laboratory data
(iv) Days of hospitalization
(i) ICU admission
(ii) 7 days mortality rate
(iii) Days of hospitalization
43 Mather et al., the United States Impact of famotidine use on clinical outcomes of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 80 (i) Famotidine 80 mg (range 40–160 mg) was received over a median of 4 days
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine 600 mg/day
(i) No famotidine (i) Hydroxychloroquine, 600 mg/day
(ii) Azithromycin
(iii) Remdesivir
(iv) Corticosteroids
(i) Death
(ii) Disease severity
(iii) Mechanical ventilation
(i) Death
(ii) Mechanical ventilation
44 Million et al., France Early treatment of COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin: A retrospective analysis of 1061 cases in Marseille, France 29 Hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin: a combination of 200 mg of oral HCQ, 3 times daily for 10 days combined with 5 of AZ (500 mg on day 1 followed by 250 mg daily for the next 4 days) Hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin early treatment, as standard care. (i) Length of hospitalization
(ii) Death
(iii) Contagiousness as assessed by PCR and culture.
(i) Length of hospitalization
(i) Death
(iii) Contagiousness as assessed by PCR and culture.
45 Morrisona et al., the United States Clinical characteristics and predictors of survival in adults with coronavirus disease 2019 receiving tocilizumab 34 (i) Tocilizumab was administered as an 8 mg/kg IV dose using actual bodyweight with a maximum dose of 800 mg. Doses were rounded to 400 mg, 600 mg, or 800 mg.
(ii) Corticosteroids
(iii) Hydroxychloroquine
(iv) Lopinavir/ritonavir with ribavirin
(v) Remdesivir
(i) Lopinavir/ritonavir with ribavirin, received as supportive care
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine, received as supportive care
(i) WHO ordinal scale
(ii) 28 day in-hospital survival
(iii) Duration of hospitalization
(i) WHO ordinal scale
(ii) 28 day in-hospital survival
(iii) Duration of hospitalization
46 Pasquini et al., Italy Effectiveness of remdesivir in patients with COVID-19 under mechanical ventilation in an Italian ICU 21 Remdesivir, first dose of 200 mg IV on day 1 plus 100 mg daily from day 2 on. No remdesivir (i) Tocilizumab
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine
(iii) Lopinavir/ritonavir with ribavirin
Mortality Mortality
47 Patel et al., India Safety and efficacy of tocilizumab in the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pneumonia: A retrospective cohort study 31 Tocilizumab dosed at 8 mg/kg, up to a maximum dose of 800 mg (i) Hydroxychloroquine. 400 mg/day for 5 days after a loading dose of 400 mg twice a day on 1st day.
(ii) Azithromycin 500 mg/day for 5 days.
(iii) IV ceftriaxone 1 g per day for 5 days.
(iv) Anticoagulation: low-molecular-weight heparin or unfractionated heparin infusion was used if the patient's D-dimer was >1000 ng/ml.
(v) Methylprednisolone: some patients also received a single dose of 80 mg IV methylprednisolone before receiving tocilizumab.
(i) Mortality
(ii) Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) with invasive mechanical ventilation or death
(iii) Hospital stay
(i) Mortality
(ii) Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) with invasive mechanical ventilation or death
(iii) Hospital stay
48 Rahmani et al., Iran Comparing outcomes of hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 following treatment with hydroxychloroquine plus atazanavir/ritonavir 58 Hydroxychloroquine + atazanavir/ritonavir has 400 mg BD on the first day and then 200 mg. 300/100 mg daily was started within 24 h of the hospital admission for all patients (i) ARB
(ii) Metformin
(iii) Aspirin
(iv) Beta-blockers
(v) Insulin
(vi) Corticosteroids
(vii) Hydroxychloroquine
(viii) Immunosuppressants
(ix) NSAIDs
(x) Methotrexate
(xi) ACEI
(xii) Azathioprine
(xiii) Sulfasalazine
(i) Interferon
(ii) Ribavirin
(iii) Corticosteroid
(iv) IVIG
(v) Vitamin C
(vi) Antibiotics
(i) 28 days mortality
(ii) Hospital stay
(iii) ICU stays
(iv) Rate of ICU admissions and intubation
(i) 28 days mortality
(ii) 56 days mortality
(iii) Hospital stay
(iv) Rate of ICU admissions and intubation
49 Rodrı'guez-MolineroI et al., Spain Observational study of azithromycin in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 52 Azithromycin prescribed at a dose of 500 mg on the first day (oral or intravenous), followed by 250 mg daily, until completing 5 days of treatment. Standard of care (i) Azithromycin
(ii) Tocilizumab
(iii) Methylprednisolone
(iv) Dexamethasone
(i) Hospital stays
(ii) Mortality
(iii) Oxygen requirement
(i) Hospital stays
(ii) Mortality
(iii) Oxygen requirement
50 Rosenberg et al., the United States Association of treatment with hydroxychloroquine or azithromycin with in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 in New York State 19 (i) Hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin
(ii) Azithromycin
(i) In-hospital mortality
(ii) Cardiac arrest and abnormal electrocardiographic (ECG) findings (defined as arrhythmia or prolonged QT fraction)
(iii) Length of stay
(i) In-hospital mortality
(ii) Length of stay
51 Rubio-Rivasa et al., Spain Beneficial effect of corticosteroids in preventing mortality in patients receiving tocilizumab to treat severe COVID-19 illness 22 Tocilizumab as a single IV infusion at a dose of 400 mg (weight <80 kg) or 600 mg (weight >80 kg) or using methylprednisolone at doses ranging from 0.5 mg/kg/d to 250 mg IV in 3 pulses (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Azithromycin
(iii) Lopinavir/ritonavir
(iv) Remdesivir
(v) Prophylactic anticoagulation therapy
(vi) Subcutaneous interferon beta-1b 0.25 mg/48 h.
(i) In-hospital mortality (i) In-hospital mortality
52 Shi et al., China Evaluation of antiviral therapies for coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia in Shanghai, China 19 (i) Arbidol group 200 mg, three times/day
(ii) Lopinavir/ritonavir group two tablets, two times/day
(iii) Arbidol + lopinavir/ritonavir group
(iv) Interferon group 100 000 U/kg, two times/day
(v) Interferon + lopinavir/ritonavir group
(vi) Interferon + darunavir group one tablet, one time/day.
(i) Improvements in pulmonary involvement
(ii) Length of hospital stay
(i) Pneumonia resolution after treatment
(ii) Length of hospital stay
53 Tang et al., China Anticoagulant treatment is associated with decreased mortality in severe coronavirus disease 2019 patients with coagulopathy 34 Unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for 7 days or longer. No heparin or less than 7 days 28 days mortality 28 days mortality
54 Tong et al., China Ribavirin therapy for severe COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study 60 Intravenous ribavirin 500 mg every 12 h Corticosteroids (i) Mortality
(ii) Negative conversion time for the SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test
(i) Mortality
(ii) Negative conversion time for the SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test
55 Toniati et al., Italy Tocilizumab for the treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia with hyperinflammatory syndrome and acute respiratory failure: A single-center study of 100 patients in Brescia, Italy 12 (i) Tocilizumab. at a dosage of 8 mg/kg (max 800 mg) by two consecutive intravenous infusions 12 h apart.
(ii) Lopinavir + ritonavir 400 mg and 100 mg twice a day.
(iii) Remdesivir
(iv) Azithromycin
(v) Ceftriaxone
(vi) Piperacillin/tazobactam
(vii) Hydroxychloroquine 400 mg/day
(viii) Dexamethasone 20 mg/day
Improvement in acute respiratory failure Improvement in acute respiratory failure
56 Tsai et al., China Successful treatment of 28 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 at a medical center in Taiwan 154 (i) Hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin + ceftriaxone + teicoplanin
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin + ceftriaxone
(iii) Hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin
(iv) Hydroxychloroquine + ceftriaxone
(v) Hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin
None None
57 Vu et al., Florida Effects of tocilizumab in COVID-19 patients: A cohort study 19 Tocilizumab 400 mg (30–100 kg) and 600 mg (> 100 kg) (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Methylprednisolone
(iii) Intravenous immunoglobulin
(iv) Convalescent plasma
(i) WHO ordinal scale
(ii) Length of stay
(iii) Mortality
(i) WHO ordinal scale
(ii) Mortality
(iii) Length of stay
58 Wu et al., China Systemic corticosteroids and mortality in severe and critical COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, China 81 (i) Corticosteroid
(ii) Hydrocortisone 5 mg
(iii) Methylprednisolone 1 mg
(iv) Dexamethasone 0.1875 mg
No corticosteroid (i) Mortality
(ii) Hospital stays
(i) Mortality
(ii) Hospital stays
59 Yan et al., China Factors associated with prolonged viral shedding and impact of lopinavir/ritonavir treatment in hospitalized noncritically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection 39 (i) Lopinavir/ritonavir 400 mg and 100 mg, orally twice daily
(ii) Corticosteroid therapy
(iii) Antibiotics
(iv) High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy
(v) Noninvasive mechanical ventilation
(vi) Invasive mechanical ventilation
(i) Length of stay
(ii) Viral shedding days
(i) Length of stay
(ii) Viral shedding days
60 Yang et al., China The role of methylprednisolone on preventing disease progression for hospitalized patients with severe COVID‐19 67 Methylprednisolone 50–80 mg/d (i) Nonmethylprednisolone
(ii) Oseltamivir
(iii) Arbidol hydrochloride
(iv) Lopinavir/ritonavir
(v) Darunavir and/cobicistat
(i) Progression to critical illness
(ii) Deaths
(i) Progression to critical illness
(ii) Deaths
61 You et al., China The use of methylprednisolone in COVID-19 patients: A propensity score matched retrospective cohort study 60 Methylprednisolone 40 mg once or twice per day within 48 hours of admission for one week. Nonmethylprednisolone (i) Hospital mortality
(ii) Positive nucleic acid test to turn negative
(iii) Length of hospital stay
(iv) Oxygen requirement
(i) Hospital mortality
(ii) Positive nucleic acid test to turn negative
(iii) Length of hospital stay
(iv) Oxygen requirement
62 Yuan et al., China Effects of corticosteroid treatment for nonsevere COVID-19 pneumonia: A propensity score-based analysis 37 (i) Corticosteroid
(ii) Methylprednisolone
Noncorticosteroid group (i) Ribavirin
(ii) Oseltamivir
(iii) Arbidol
(iv) Lopinavir/ritonavir
(v) Interferon
(i) Progressed to severe cases
(ii) Secondary infection
(iii) Hospital stays
(iv) Duration of viral shedding
(v) Fever time
(i) Progressed to severe cases
(ii) Hospital stay
(iii) Duration of viral shedding
63 Mushtaq et al., Pakistan Outcome of COVID-19 patients with use of tocilizumab: A single-center experience 62 Tocilizumab 4–8 mg/kg. (i) Azithromycin
(ii) Ceftriaxone or piperacillin/tazobactam
(iii) Methylprednisolone
(iv) Hydroxychloroquine
(i) Mortality
(ii) Length of hospital stay
(iii) Weaning from a mechanical ventilator, weaning from oxygen support, improvement in laboratory parameters
(i) Mortality
(ii) Length of hospital stay
(iii) Weaning from a mechanical ventilator, weaning from oxygen support, improvement in laboratory parameters
64 Yan Zuo et al., China Lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon combination therapy may help shorten the duration of viral shedding in patients with COVID‐19: A retrospective study in two designated hospitals in Anhui, China 56 (i) Corticosteroid
(ii) Lopinavir/ritonavir
(iii) Chloroquine
(iv) Ribavirin
(v) IFN‐α
(vi) Arbidol
(vii) Intravenous immunoglobulin
(viii) Traditional Chinese medicine
Length of stay Length of stay
65 Yu et al., China COVID‐19 patients benefit from early antiviral treatment: A comparative, retrospective study 27 (i) Arbidol
(ii) Interferon
(iii) Oseltamivir
(iv) Ribavirin
(v) Ganciclovir
(vi) Antibiotic treatment
(vii) Antifungal treatment
(viii) Oxygen therapy
(ix) Glucocorticoids
(x) Immunotherapy
(i) Time from illness onset to be confirmed by SARS‐Cov‐2 RNA detection
(ii) Time from illness onset to initiation of antiviral treatment
(iii) Duration of total antiviral medication during the illness
(iv) Time from illness onset to SARS‐CoV‐2 negative
(i) Time from illness onset to be confirmed by SARS‐Cov‐2 RNA detection
(ii) Time from illness onset to SARS‐CoV‐2 negative
66 Llitjos et al., France High incidence of venous thromboembolic events in anticoagulated severe COVID-19 patients 9 Prophylactic anticoagulation Therapeutic anticoagulation 0.3–0.7 U/ml (i) Acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ii) Acute kidney injury
(iii) Liver dysfunction
(iv) Death
(i) Acute respiratory distress syndrome
(ii) Death
67 Borie et al., France Glucocorticoids with low-dose anti-IL1 anakinra rescue in severe non-ICU COVID-19 infection: A cohort study 42 (i) Corticosteroid ± anakinra
(ii) Methylprednisolone 120 mg (daily dose) on three consecutive days
(iii) Glucocorticoid
Thrombosis prophylaxis with LMWH. From February 15 to March 27, 2020 (i) Lopinavir-ritonavir
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine
(iii) Ivermectin, 12–15 mg
(iv) Remdesivir
(v) Thrombosis prophylaxis with LMWH
(vi) Tocilizumab
(vii) Corticosteroids, 120 mg
(viii) Anakinra, 100 mg anakinra daily was added subcutaneously for ≤5days
(i) Death
(ii) Invasive mechanical ventilation requirement within 15 days
(i) Death
(ii) Invasive mechanical ventilation requirement within 15 days
68 Majmundar et al., the United States Efficacy of corticosteroids in nonintensive care unit patients with COVID-19 pneumonia from the New York metropolitan region 57 (i) Corticosteroids
(ii) Methylprednisolone
(iii) Prednisone
(iv) Dexamethasone
Noncorticosteroids (i) Hydrocortisone
(ii) Tocilizumab
(iii) Enoxaparin therapeutic dose
(i) Intensive care unit (ICU) transfer
(ii) ICU transfer
(iii) Intubation
(iv) Death
(v) Discharge
(vi) Length of stay
(i) Intensive care unit (ICU) transfer
(ii) Intubation
(iii) Death
(iv) Length of stay
69 Martínez-Sanz et al., Spain Effects of tocilizumab on mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A multicenter cohort study 24 Tocilizumab Standard of care (i) Corticosteroids
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine
(iii) Azithromycin
(iv) Lopinavir/ritonavir
(i) Non-ICU length of stay (days)
(ii) ICU admission
(iii) ICU length of stay (days)
(iv) Overall mortality
(v) ICU mortality
(vi) Non-ICU mortality
(vii) ICU or mortality
(i) Non-ICU length of stay (days)
(ii) ICU length of stay (days)
(iii) Overall mortality
(iv) ICU mortality
(v) Non-ICU mortality
(vi) ICU or mortality
70 Menzella et al., Italy Efficacy of tocilizumab in patients with COVID-19 ARDS undergoing noninvasive ventilation 70 (i) Tocilizumab + standard therapy
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine
(iii) Antivirals (lopinavir/ritonavir or darunavir/cobicistat)
(iv) Anticoagulants (full dosage)
(v) Steroids (methylprednisolone 0.5–1 mg/kg/die)
(i) Standard therapy (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Antivirals (lopinavir/ritonavir or darunavir/cobicistat)
(iii) Anticoagulants (full dosage)
(iv) Steroids (methylprednisolone 0.5–1 mg/kg/die)
(i) Intubation/death
(ii) Death
(i) Intubation/death
(ii) Death
71 Mikulska et al, Italy Tocilizumab and steroid treatment in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (i) Tocilizumab. 8 mg/kg (maximum 800 mg)
(ii) Methylprednisolone. 1 mg/kg for 5 days intravenously, then 0.5 mg/kg for 5 days
(iii)Standard of care
Standard of care (i) Hydroxychloroquine. 400 mg bid
(ii) Darunavir/ritonavir. 800/100 qd
(iii) Low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis
(i) Time to failure, defined as intubation and mechanical ventilation or death
(ii) Overall survival
(iii) Time of hospitalization for the comparison between tocilizumab/methylprednisolone/SOC
(i) Time to failure, defined as intubation and mechanical ventilation or death
(ii) Overall survival
(iii) Time of hospitalization for the comparison between tocilizumab/methylprednisolone/SOC
72 Monreal et al., Spain High versus standard doses of corticosteroids in severe COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study 61 High doses of corticosteroids: short-term pulse therapy of methylprednisolone-equivalent dosages from 250 to 1000 mg/day during one or more consecutive days. Standard doses of corticosteroids. Methylprednisolone-equivalent dosages ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mg/kg/day. (i) Mortality
(ii) A combined variable of need for mechanical or noninvasive MV and death.
(iii) The development of severe ARDS, according to the Berlin definition
(i) Mortality
(ii) A combined variable of need for mechanical or noninvasive MV and death
73 Pérez et al., Spain Experience with tocilizumab in severe COVID-19 pneumonia after 80 days of follow-up: A retrospective cohort study 52 Tocilizumab: initial 600 mg, with a second or third dose (400 mg) in case of persistent or progressive disease Not received tocilizumab (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Lopinavir/ritonavir
(iii) Azithromycin.
(i) All-cause mortality (either in-hospital or after discharge) and associated factors.
(ii) The impact of an early clinical response to tocilizumab in hospital and ICU stay.
(iii) Evaluate safety of tocilizumab therapy.
(i) All-cause mortality (either in-hospital or after discharge) and associated factors.
(ii) The impact of an early clinical response to tocilizumab in hospital and ICU stay.
(iii) Evaluate safety of tocilizumab therapy.
74 Nadkarni et al., the United States Anticoagulation, bleeding, mortality, and pathology in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 61 (i) Therapeutic anticoagulation
(ii) Prophylactic anticoagulation
No anticoagulation (i) Mortality
(ii) Intubation and major bleeding
(i) Mortality
(ii) Intubation and major bleeding
75 Nasir et al., Pakistan Tocilizumab for COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome: outcomes assessment using the WHO ordinal scale 121 Before tocilizumab After tocilizumab Concomitant steroids (i) WHO ordinal scale
(ii) Mortality
(iii) Length of stay
(iv) Development of nosocomial infection during hospitalization.
(i) WHO ordinal scale
(ii) Mortality
(iii) Length of stay
76 Omrani et al., Qatar Convalescent plasma for the treatment of patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019: A preliminary report 62 Convalescent plasma Standard of care (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Azithromycin
(iii) lopinavir-ritonavir
(iv) Tocilizumab
(v) Methylprednisolone
(i) WHO ordinal scale
(ii) Improvement in the respiratory status
(iii) Discharged alive from ICU by study day 28
(iv) Viral clearance
(i) WHO ordinal scale
(ii) Improvement in the respiratory status
(iii) Discharged alive from ICU by study day 28
(iv)Viral clearance
77 Paccoud et al., France Compassionate use of hydroxychloroquine in clinical practice for patients with mild to severe COVID-19 in a French university hospital 79 Hydroxychloroquine, 200 mg 3 times daily for 10 days (i) Oxygen therapy to maintain an oxygen saturation >96%
(ii) Intravenous or oral acetaminophen
(iii) Antibiotics
(i) Death
(ii) Admission to an ICU
(iii) Time to death
(iv) Time to hospital discharge for a return home or in an aftercare and rehabilitation
(v) Adverse events recorded in patients receiving hydroxychloroquine treatment
(i) Death
(ii) Admission to an ICU
(iii) Adverse events recorded in the patients receiving hydroxychloroquine treatment
78 Price et al., the United States Tocilizumab treatment for cytokine release syndrome in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019: survival and clinical outcomes 22 (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Glucocorticoids
(iii) Tocilizumab, 8 mg/kg intravenously, not to exceed 800mg;
(i) Survival
(ii) 14 days survival
(iii) Mechanical ventilation
(iv) Days mechanically ventilated
(v) Days of symptoms prior to hospitalization
(vi) Days hospitalized
(vii) Hospitalized at day 14
(i) Survival
(ii) 14 days survival
(iii) Mechanical ventilation
(iv) Days mechanically ventilated
(v) Days hospitalized
(vi) Hospitalized at day 14
79 Rodríguez-Baño et al., Spain Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: A multicenter cohort study (SAM-COVID-19) 59 (i) Tocilizumab
(ii) Corticosteroid pulse dose
(iii) Corticosteroids intermediate-high dose
(iv) Combination therapy
No treatment - (i) WHO ordinal scale (ii) Death or intubation (i) WHO ordinal scale (ii) Death or intubation
80 Roomi et al., United States Efficacy of hydroxychloroquine and tocilizumab in patients with COVID-19: single-center retrospective chart review 91 (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Tocilizumab
(i) No hydroxychloroquine
(ii) No tocilizumab
(i) Steroids
(ii) Anticoagulation
(i) Invasive mechanical ventilation
(ii) Mortality
(iii) Discharge
(i) Invasive mechanical ventilation
(ii) Mortality
(iii) Dialysis
81 Antorán et al., Spain Combination of tocilizumab and steroids to improve mortality in patients with severe COVID-19 infection: A Spanish, multicenter, cohort study 49 Tocilizumab No tocilizumab (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Lopinavir/ritonavir
(iii) Azithromycin
(iv) Remdesivir
(v) Interferon
(vi) Steroids
Mortality Mortality
82 Tortajada et al., Spain Corticosteroids for COVID‐19 patients requiring oxygen support? Yes, but not for everyone: effect of corticosteroids on mortality and intensive care unit admission in patients with COVID‐19 according to patients' oxygen requirements 59 (i) Corticosteroids
(ii) Methylprednisolone 250 mg iv once and 40 mg BIQ for 4 days
(iii) Dexamethasone 20 mg iv QD for 5 days, followed by 10 mg QD for 5 more days
No corticosteroids (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Azithromycin
(iii) Lopinavir/ ritonavir
(iv) Tocilizumab
(v) Interferon beta
(i) WHO ordinal scale.
(ii) Admission to ICU or in‐hospital death
(iii) Clinical improvement
(i) WHO ordinal scale.
(ii) Admission to ICU or in‐hospital death
(iii) Clinical improvement
83 Magagnoli et al., the United States Outcomes of hydroxychloroquine usage in United States veterans hospitalized with COVID-19 21 (i) Hydroxychloroquine
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin
(iii) No hydroxychloroquine
(i) Mortality
(ii) Use of mechanical ventilation
(i) Mortality
(ii) Use of mechanical ventilation
84 Joyner et al., United States Early safety indicators of COVID-19 convalescent plasma in 5000 patients 39 Convalescent plasma The safety of transfusion of COVID-19 convalescent plasma assessed as the incidence and relatedness of severe adverse events including death. The safety of transfusion of COVID-19 convalescent plasma assessed as the incidence and relatedness of severe adverse events including death.
85 Rajter et al., South Florida, the United States Use of ivermectin is associated with lower mortality in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019: The ivermectin in COVID-19 study 58 Ivermectin 200 μg/kg No ivermectin (i) Corticosteroid
(ii) Hydroxychloroquine
(iii) Azithromycin
(i) Mortality
(ii) Successful extubation
(iii) Length of hospital stay
(i) Mortality
(ii) Successful extubation
(iii) Length of hospital stay.
86 Hanif et al., the United States Thrombotic complications and anticoagulation in COVID-19 pneumonia: A New York City hospital experience 31 (i) Therapeutic anticoagulation prior to admission
(ii) Therapeutic anticoagulation during the admission
(iii) Prophylactic anticoagulation only during the hospital stay
(iv) No anticoagulation
(i) Mortality
(ii) Length of stay
(iii) Intubation
(iv) Successful extubation
(i) Mortality
(ii) Length of stay
(iii) Intubation
(iv) Successful extubation
87 Duan et al., China Effectiveness of convalescent plasma therapy in severe COVID-19 patients 30 Convalescent plasma: one dose of 200 ml of inactivated CP with neutralization activity of >1:640 was transfused into the patients within 4 h following the WHO blood transfusion protocol. (i) Antiviral therapy
(ii) Other supportive care
(iii) Antibiotic treatment
(iv) Antifungal treatment
(v) Glucocorticoid
(vi) Oxygen support at the appropriate situation
(i) The safety of convalescent plasma transfusion.
(ii) The improvement of clinical symptoms and laboratory and radiological parameters within 3 days after
(iii) Convalescent plasma transfusion.
(i) The safety of convalescent plasma transfusion.
(ii) The improvement of clinical symptoms and laboratory and radiological parameters within 3 days after
(iii) Convalescent plasma transfusion.