Evaluating the Treatment with Favipiravir in Patients Infected by COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background and aim: Considering the results of studies and the potential of using favipiravir treatment of COVID- 19, reviewing the results of clinical trial studies and summarizing the results are of great importance. It may be possible to use favipiravir extensively in the future. Therefore, the purpose of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the improvement rates of favipiravir treatment in patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods: From the electronic databases, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, ISI have been used to perform systematic literature between 2010 and 2020. Therefore, a software program (Endnote X8) has been utilized for managing electronic titles. Searches were performed with mesh terms. The odds ratio between the two groups (Favipiravir and control) with a 95% confidence interval was calculated. Random effects were used to deal with potential heterogeneity, and I2 showed heterogeneity. The Meta-analysis and forest plots have been evaluated using a software program available in the market (i.e., Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Stata V16). Results: According to the research design, 186 potentially important research abstracts and titles have been discovered in our electronic searches. Finally, two papers remained in agreement with our inclusion criteria required. Statistically, a significant difference observed between improvement rates of the Favipiravir group and control group (p=0.01). Conclusion: Positive effect and improvement rates of favipiravir VS control groups observed to treat patients with COVID-19.