Table 1 Characteristics of included randomized controlled trials
From: A systematic review assessing the under-representation of elderly adults in COVID-19 trials
Study ID | Intervention | Publication site | Country | Disease severity included (most patients) | Number randomized | Primary outcome | Age | Upper age limit inclusion | Number. age ≥ 65 y | Sub-group of elderly reported | Exclusion by mental or cognitive disorder | Consent options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cao 2020 [14] | LPV/r | PubMed | China | Severe | 199 | Time to clinical improvement | 58.0 (49.0–68.0) | NS | NS | NS | NS | Patient/legal guardian |
Borba 2020 [15] | High-dose CQ | PubMed | Brazil | Severe | 81 | Mortality (28 day) | 51.1 (13.9) | NS | NS | NS | NS | Patient/legal guardian/family |
Wang 2020 [16] | Remdesivir | Journal site (Lancet) | China | Severe | 237 | Time to clinical improvement | 65 (56–71) | NS | NS | NS | NS | Patient/legal guardian |
Hung 2020 [17] | LPV/r based combinations | Journal site (Lancet) | Hong Kong | Mild/moderate | 127 | Time to negative RT-PCR | 52 (32–62) | NS | NS | NS | Inability to comprehend and to follow all required study procedures | Patient/legal guardian/family |
Beigel 2020 [18] | LPV/r based combinations | Journal site (Lancet Infectious Diseases) | China | Mild/moderate | 101 | Time to negative RT-PCR | 42.5 (11.5) | 65 | NS | For safety - 18-40 vs 41–65 | NS | NS (“Written informed consent”) |
Zeng 2020 [19] | Remdesivir | Journal site (NEJM) | Multinational (mainly USA) | Severe | 1063 | Time to recovery | 58.9 (15.0) | NS | 382 | For age ≥ 65 | Understands planned study procedures | Patient/legal guardian |
Chen Z 2020 [20] | Favipiravir vs arbidol | medRxiv | China | Moderate | 240 | Clinical recovery rate at 7 days | NS | NS | 60/240 | NS | NS | NS (“Informed consent was obtained from all patients”) |
Chen C 2020 [21] | HCQ | medRxiv | China | Mild | 62 | Time to clinical recovery | 44.7 (15.3) | NS | NS | NS | NS | Patient/legal guardian |
Lou 2020 [22] | baloxavir marboxil vs favipiravir | medRxiv | China | NS | 30 | Rate of RT-PCR negativity at 14 days and time to clinical improvement | 52.5 (12.5) | 85 | NS | NS | NS (“Consent was obtained”) | |
Tang 2020 [23] | HCQ | medRxiv | China | Mild/moderate | 150 | Rate of RT-PCR negativity at 28 days | 46.1 (14.7) | NS | 72/150 age ≥ 45 | For primary outcome age > =45 vs < 45 | Unable to cooperate with investigators due to cognitive impairment or poor mental status | NS (“Written informed consent was obtained from all patients”) |
Li 2020 [24] | LPV/r vs arbidol | medRxiv | China | Mild/moderate | 86 | Time to negative RT-PCR | 49.4 (14.7) | 80 | NS | NS | Mental illnesses affecting treatment compliance | NS (“Written informed consent was obtained from all screened patients”) |
Zhong 2020 [25] | α-Lipoic acid | medRxiv | China | Critical | 17 | SOFA Score | 63 (59–66) | NS | 9/17 age 60–70, 2/17 age > 70 | NS | NS | NS (“Patients who cannot sign informed consent must obtain informed consent from the independent authorized nurse”) |