COMPARATIVE SAFETY EFFICACY OF CONVENTIONAL AND TRADITIONAL MEDICINE FOR COVID-19 TREATMENT: UMBRELLA REVIEW

Abstract

Until now, no specific drug to kill the virus that causes COVID-19 has received approval from the Food and Drug Association (FDA). However, the drugs that are often used are off-label antiviral drugs. The research design used is an umbrella review that identifies, assesses and interprets all findings on a systematic review and meta-analysis research topic. This umbrella review research involved 76 studies and 871,985 COVID-19 patients. Statins, colchicine, aspirin and siltuximab are associated with a reduced risk of mortality in COVID-19 patients, but siltuximab has the side effects of cytopenias, infections and hypersensitivity reactions. Remdesivir and umifenovir have the side effect of diarrhea, while ribavirin has the side effect of severe bradycardia in COVID-19 patients. Anakinra, oseltamivir, umifenovir, azithromycin, interferon beta and favipiravir are ineffective and have no significant benefit. Meanwhile, treating COVID-19 with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with conventional medicine has excellent results, efficacy, and safety effects. Only Jinhua qinggan granule (JHQG) has side effects in the form of mild diarrhea. Further research is needed regarding the concentration of TCM administered to COVID-19 patients, both children and adults.