Clinical efficacy and safety of interferon-β–containing regimens in the treatment of patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ABSTRACT

Objective

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials(RCTs) was to investigate the efficacy of interferon (IFN)-β–containing regimens in treating patients with COVID-19.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to 17 July 2021. RCTs comparing the clinical efficacy and safety of IFN-β–containing regimens (study group) to other antiviral treatment options or placebo (control group) in treating patients with COVID-19 were included.

Results

Eight RCTs were included. No significant difference in the 28-day all-cause mortality rate was observed between the study and control groups (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.44–1.24; I² = 51%). The study groups had a lower rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions than the control groups (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.36–0.95; I² = 0%). Furthermore, INF-β was not associated with an increased risk of any adverse event (AE) or serious AE when compared with the control group.

Conclusions

IFN-β does not appear to provide an increased survival benefit in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 but may help reduce the risk of ICU admission. Moreover, IFN-β is a safe agent for use in the treatment of COVID-19.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• ICU
• interferon-β
• mortality
• SARS-CoV-2

Author contributions

Conception: WCC, CKH, CYC, SHH, and WTL

Study design: WCC, CKH, CYC and CCL

Analysis and interpretation: WCC, CKH, CYC and CCL

Drafted or written: CCL, SHH and WTL

Substantially revised or critically review: SHH and WTL

All authors have agreed on the journal to which the article will be submitted and reviewed and agreed on all versions of the article before submission, during revision, the final version accepted for publication, and any significant changes introduced at the proofing stage. In addition, all authors agree to take responsibility and be accountable for the contents of the article and to share responsibility to resolve any questions raised about the accuracy or integrity of the published work.

Declaration of interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants, or patents received or pending, or royalties

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.