Use of ivermectin for prevention, treatment of COVID-19

Editor's Note

This systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis by UK researchers find that the FDA-approved, anti-parasitic drug ivermectin could reduce COVID-19 related deaths and infections.

The data showed:

• The use of ivermectin to treat patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 reduced risk of death by an average of 62%.
• The risk of death was found to be 2.3% in hospitalized patients treated with ivermectin, compared to 7.8% for those who were not.
• The use of ivermectin early in the clinical course may reduce the number of patients progressing to severe disease.
• The use of ivermectin may have no benefit for patients in need of mechanical ventilation.

Ivermectin is likely to be an equitable, acceptable, and feasible global intervention against COVID-19, the authors concluded.