Ivermectin's Role in the Prevention of COVID‐19: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Abstract

This systematic review was performed to determine the population that benefited from prophylactic ivermectin. Seven databases of health-related studies were searched for eligible trials without language restrictions. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies investigating ivermectin for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention were included. Data were pooled using a random-effects model, and subgroups were analyzed by study type and the pre-or postexposure population. The certainty of the evidence was determined by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Furthermore, 4 RCTs and 4 cohort studies with a moderate to high risk of bias were included in the analysis. The prophylactic use of ivermectin significantly decreased the overall incidence of COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR], 0.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16-0.44). Nevertheless, the positive result was not supported by the RCT. Ivermectin was associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.12-0.40) in the preexposure population, whereas no protective effect was observed in the postexposure population (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.09-1.67). In summary, prophylactic ivermectin did not prevent COVID-19 in the postexposure population. Although the protective effect of ivermectin was shown in the overall and preexposure populations, the results were unreliable owing to poor-quality evidence.

Ivermectin: A Multifaceted Drug With a Potential Beyond Anti-parasitic Therapy

“…In a recent meta-analysis, Marcolino et al evaluated 25 randomized clinical trials totaling over 6,000 patients and found that ivermectin does not reduce mortality risk or mechanical ventilation requirements [ 64 ]. Furthermore, a 2023 meta-analysis on the use of ivermectin for post-exposure prophylactic measures in COVID-19 management revealed that ivermectin did not exert a protective effect on this population [ 65 ]. This study by Hu et al has observed a plausible protective effect of ivermectin in preexposed populations.…”

“…This study by Hu et al has observed a plausible protective effect of ivermectin in preexposed populations. However, the authors have cautioned that the results of this study should be interpreted with caution due to the poor quality of evidence in this subset of patients [ 65 ]. This suggests that further research is warranted to verify these findings and determine the potential utility of ivermectin in this context.…”

Features of COVID-19 etiopathogenetic pharmacotherapy

“…Gong-Yi Hu с соавт. в систематическом обзоре, включившем рандомизированные и когортные иссле- Хотя эффективность ивермектина и была продемонстрирована, результаты оказались ненадежными изза низкого качества доказательств [34].…”