Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in the treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Efforts are ongoing by researchers globally to develop new drugs or repurpose existing ones for treating COVID-19. Thus, this led to the use of oseltamivir, an antiviral drug used for treating influenza A and B viruses, as a trial drug for COVID-19. However, available evidence from clinical studies...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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Public Library of Science
2022
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/103419/ |
| _version_ | 1848864015537668096 |
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| author | Aliyu, Basiru Raji, Yakubu Egigogo Chee, Hui Yee Wong, Mui Yun Sekawi, Zamberi |
| author_facet | Aliyu, Basiru Raji, Yakubu Egigogo Chee, Hui Yee Wong, Mui Yun Sekawi, Zamberi |
| author_sort | Aliyu, Basiru |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Efforts are ongoing by researchers globally to develop new drugs or repurpose existing ones for treating COVID-19. Thus, this led to the use of oseltamivir, an antiviral drug used for treating influenza A and B viruses, as a trial drug for COVID-19. However, available evidence from clinical studies has shown conflicting results on the effectiveness of oseltamivir in COVID-19 treatment. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess the clinical safety and efficacy of oseltamivir for treating COVID-19. The study was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, and the priori protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021270821). Five databases were searched, the identified records were screened, and followed by the extraction of relevant data. Eight observational studies from four Asian countries were included. A random-effects model was used to pool odds ratios (ORs), mean differences (MD), and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the study analysis. Survival was not significantly different between all categories of oseltamivir and the comparison groups analysed. The duration of hospitalisation was significantly shorter in the oseltamivir group following sensitivity analysis (MD -5.95, 95% CI -9.91--1.99 p = 0.003, heterogeneity I2 0%, p = 0.37). The virological, laboratory and radiological response rates were all not in favour of oseltamivir. However, the electrocardiographic safety parameters were found to be better in the oseltamivir group. However, more studies are needed to establish robust evidence on the effectiveness or otherwise of oseltamivir usage for treating COVID-19. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T13:42:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-103419 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T13:42:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-1034192023-06-12T04:42:05Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/103419/ Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in the treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Aliyu, Basiru Raji, Yakubu Egigogo Chee, Hui Yee Wong, Mui Yun Sekawi, Zamberi Efforts are ongoing by researchers globally to develop new drugs or repurpose existing ones for treating COVID-19. Thus, this led to the use of oseltamivir, an antiviral drug used for treating influenza A and B viruses, as a trial drug for COVID-19. However, available evidence from clinical studies has shown conflicting results on the effectiveness of oseltamivir in COVID-19 treatment. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess the clinical safety and efficacy of oseltamivir for treating COVID-19. The study was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, and the priori protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021270821). Five databases were searched, the identified records were screened, and followed by the extraction of relevant data. Eight observational studies from four Asian countries were included. A random-effects model was used to pool odds ratios (ORs), mean differences (MD), and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the study analysis. Survival was not significantly different between all categories of oseltamivir and the comparison groups analysed. The duration of hospitalisation was significantly shorter in the oseltamivir group following sensitivity analysis (MD -5.95, 95% CI -9.91--1.99 p = 0.003, heterogeneity I2 0%, p = 0.37). The virological, laboratory and radiological response rates were all not in favour of oseltamivir. However, the electrocardiographic safety parameters were found to be better in the oseltamivir group. However, more studies are needed to establish robust evidence on the effectiveness or otherwise of oseltamivir usage for treating COVID-19. Public Library of Science 2022 Article PeerReviewed Aliyu, Basiru and Raji, Yakubu Egigogo and Chee, Hui Yee and Wong, Mui Yun and Sekawi, Zamberi (2022) Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in the treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). PLoS ONE, 17 (12). art. no. 277206. pp. 1-21. ISSN 1932-6203 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0277206 10.1371/journal.pone.0277206 |
| spellingShingle | Aliyu, Basiru Raji, Yakubu Egigogo Chee, Hui Yee Wong, Mui Yun Sekawi, Zamberi Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in the treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) |
| title | Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in the treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) |
| title_full | Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in the treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) |
| title_fullStr | Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in the treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in the treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) |
| title_short | Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in the treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) |
| title_sort | systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir (tamiflu) in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/103419/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/103419/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/103419/ |