Clinical efficacy and safety of Janus kinase inhibitors for COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108027Get rights and content

Highlight

  • This study investigated the usefulness of JAK inhibitors for COVID-19 patients.

  • All-cause mortality rate was lower among the patients receiving JAK inhibitors.

  • The clinical recovery rate was higher among the patients receiving JAK inhibitors.

  • JAK inhibitors was not associated with an increase the risk of adverse events.

  • JAK inhibitors can help improve the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients.

Abstract

Objectives

This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors for COVID-19 patients.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to July 12, 2021. RCTs comparing the clinical efficacy and safety of JAK inhibitors with a placebo or standard care in treating COVID-19 patients were included. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality rate at day 28.

Results

Three RCTs were included in this meta-analysis. The all-cause mortality rate at day 28 was lower among the patients receiving JAK inhibitors than among the controls (4.1% [28/647] versus 7.0% [48/684], OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.36–0.92, I2 = 0). The clinical recovery rate was higher among the patients receiving JAK inhibitors than among the controls (85.1% (579/680) versus 80.0% [547/684], OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.09–1.93, I2 = 0). Additionally, the use of JAK inhibitors was associated with a shorter time to recovery than among the controls (MD, −2.84; 95% CI, −5.56 to −0.12; I2 = 50%). The rate of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) was lower in the patients who used JAK inhibitors than among the controls. Finally, no significant difference was observed between the patients who used JAK inhibitors and the controls in the risk of any adverse events (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.64–1.34; I2 = 33%) and serious adverse events (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.45–1.44; I2 = 46%).

Conclusions

JAK inhibitors can lead to a better clinical outcome of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and they are a safe agent in the treatment of COVID-19.

Keywords

Baricitinib
COVID-19
Janus kinase inhibitor
Ruxolitinib
And tofacitinib

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