Determining the efficacy of N-acetyl cysteine in treatment of pneumonia in COVID-19 hospitalized patients: A meta-analysis
Abstract
Background
Most patients infected with COVID-19 experienced cold-like symptoms. Some other patients developed more serious symptoms such as pneumonia. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is known to be effective against acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The effect of NAC on hospitalized COVID-19 patients was unknown. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to establish a relationship between the effects of NAC and non-NAC protocols in inpatients with COVID-19.
Method
By March 2022, a systemic review was conducted to assess the effects of NAC and non-NAC in inpatients with COVID-19. The clinical trials were identified in 20553 subjects admitted with COVID-19 at baseline. 2909 was treated with NAC and 17644 was treated without NAC. This study attempts to compare the effects of NAC and non-NAC in COVID-19 patients hospitalized with pneumonia. Statistical analysis uses the dichotomous method as a tool for odds ratio (OR) at 95% confidence interval (CI) to assess the effectiveness of NAC and non-NAC in COVID-19 patients hospitalized with pneumonia in random or fixed-effect model.
Results
Patients managed with NAC had fewer days in the ICU (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, -1.11-6.69, p = 0.16), lower mortality (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.40-1.20, p = 0.19), and fewer number needed mechanical ventilation (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.25-2.21, p = 0.59) compared with non-NAC in COVID-19 subjects hospitalized with pneumonia.
Conclusion
NAC has decreased the days…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 20,553 participants or records.
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