MyMedR

Owing to the reported safety concerns, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of preadmission/prediagnosis use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) on the clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. A systematic literature search with no language restriction was conducted in electronic databases in July 2021 to identify eligible studies. The outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and severe illness. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled summary measure for outcomes of interest with the preadmission/prediagnosis use of CCBs relative to nonuse CCBs, at 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The meta-analyses revealed no significant difference in the odds of all-cause mortality [pooled odds ratio (OR) = 0.82; 95% CI 0.68-1.00; n = 58,355] and in the odds of severe illness (pooled OR = 0.83; 95% CI 0.61-1.15; n = 46,091) respectively, with preadmission/prediagnosis use of CCBs relative to nonuse of CCBs. Nevertheless, subgroup analysis of studies originated from East Asia reported a significant reduction in the odds of all-cause mortality (pooled OR = 0.50; 95% CI 0.37-0.68) and the odds of severe illness (pooled OR = 0.51; 95% CI 0.33-0.78). There may not be safety concerns with the use of CCBs in patients with COVID-19, but their potential protective effects in the East Asian patients merit further investigations.

Fulltext The impact of preadmission/prediagnosis use of GLP-1 receptor agonists on COVID-19 mortality in patients with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS

Health Sci Rep, 2023 Sep;6(9):e1549.

PMID: 37720167 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1549

Fulltext How to make the best of NLRP3 inhibitors in patients with COVID-19?

Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS

Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 2023 Aug;79(8):1143-1144.

PMID: 37294339 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-023-03518-z

Fulltext Ingestion of beta-glucans could stimulate longer-lasting cellular immunity upon administration of COVID-19 vaccines

Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS

J Food Biochem, 2021 Nov;45(11):e13959.

PMID: 34608650 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.13959

Optimizing antidiabetic therapy: Enhancing COVID-19 outcomes for patients with type-2 diabetes

Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS

Ann Endocrinol (Paris), 2023 Dec;84(6):792.

PMID: 37903668 DOI: 10.1016/j.ando.2023.09.004

Fulltext Can Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors Protect Against Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With COVID-19?

Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS

Crit Care Med, 2022 Nov 01;50(11):e796-e797.

PMID: 36227048 DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000005618

Fulltext The effect of vitamin C on the risk of mortality in patients with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Kow CS, Hasan SS, Ramachandram DS

Inflammopharmacology, 2023 Dec;31(6):3357-3362.

PMID: 37071316 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01200-5

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Vitamin C appears to be a viable treatment option for patients with COVID-19.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of vitamin C versus comparative interventions in patients with COVID-19. The outcome of interest was all-cause mortality.

RESULTS: The meta-analysis of eleven trials using a random-effects model revealed significant reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality with the administration of vitamin C among patients with COVID-19 relative to no vitamin C (pooled odds ratio = 0.53; 95% confidence interval 0.30-0.92). Subgroup analysis of studies that included patients with severe COVID-19 also produced findings of significant mortality reduction with the administration of vitamin C relative to no vitamin C (pooled odds ratio = 0.47; 95% confidence interval 0.26-0.84).

CONCLUSION: Overall, evidence from RCTs suggests a survival benefit for vitamin C in patients with severe COVID-19. However, we should await data from large-scale randomized trials to affirm its mortality benefits.

The effect of probiotics on the risk of mortality in patients with COVID-19: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS

Inflammopharmacology, 2023 Dec;31(6):3327-3332.

PMID: 37848697 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01358-y

Probiotics have been hypothesized to play a beneficial role in modulating immune responses and gut microbiota in various clinical settings. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of probiotics in reducing all-cause mortality among patients diagnosed with COVID-19. We conducted a comprehensive search of the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for published studies, and medRxiv, Research Square, and SSRN for preprints. The search spanned from the inception of these databases to April 4, 2023. We included studies that investigated the use of probiotics as an intervention and their impact on all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19. A random-effects model meta-analysis was employed to estimate the pooled odds ratio, along with 95% confidence interval, to quantify the outcomes associated with probiotic use compared to other interventions. Our systematic review comprised six studies, encompassing a total of 642 patients. The meta-analysis, employing a random-effects model, demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality when probiotics were administered to patients with COVID-19, compared to those not receiving probiotics (pooled odds ratio = 0.44; 95% confidence interval 0.24-0.82). In conclusion, evidence derived from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) indicates a survival benefit associated with the use of probiotics among COVID-19 patients. However, it is essential to exercise caution and await data from large-scale randomized trials to definitively confirm the mortality benefits of probiotics in this patient population.

Fulltext The risk of mortality and severe illness in patients infected with the omicron variant relative to delta variant of SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS

Ir J Med Sci, 2023 Dec;192(6):2897-2904.

PMID: 36754948 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-022-03266-6

We summarized through systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies the risk of mortality as well as severe illness of COVID-19 caused by omicron variant relative to delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. A total of twelve studies were included. Our results showed significantly reduced odds of mortality (pooled OR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.16-0.67) and significantly reduced odds of severe illness (pooled OR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.21-0.28) in patients infected with the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 relative to their counterparts infected with the delta variant. Findings of lower disease severity following infection with the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 than the delta variant are encouraging during the ongoing transition from the pandemic phase into the endemic phase of COVID-19.

Unlocking the enigma: Metabolic risks of typical antipsychotics and their link to COVID-19 mortality

Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS

Eur Neuropsychopharmacol, 2024 Jan;78:1-2.

PMID: 37864979 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.09.003

Fulltext Intermediate- to high-dose dexamethasone versus low-dose dexamethasone in patients with COVID-19 requiring respiratory support: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS

Inflammopharmacology, 2023 Oct;31(5):2773-2779.

PMID: 37266814 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01251-8

The present review critically appraised the randomized clinical trials that compared mortality outcomes between intermediate- to high-dose dexamethasone and low-dose dexamethasonein patients with COVID-19 and reported pooled mortality risk estimates associated with these two dosing regimens of dexamethasone. The systematic searching of electronic databases was limited to randomized clinical trials that compared mortality outcomes between intermediate- to high-dose dexamethasone with low-dose dexamethasone in patients with COVID-19 requiring respiratory support. The primary outcome of interest in this review was all-cause mortality. A total of eight trials with 1800 patients randomized to receive intermediate to high-dose dexamethasone and 1715 patients randomized to low-dose dexamethasone were included. The meta-analysis of six trials revealed no significant difference in the risk of 28-day all-cause mortality between intermediate- to high-dose dexamethasone and low-dose dexamethasone (odds ratio 1.16, 95% confidence interval, 0.77-1.74). Similarly, the meta-analysis of five trials revealed no significant difference between the two doses regarding 60-day all-cause mortality (odds ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.74-1.26). The results suggest intermediate- to high-dose dexamethasone to be as effective as low-dose dexamethasone in reducing the risk of mortality among patients with COVID-19 requiring respiratory support. However, higher dexamethasone doses could expose patients with COVID-19 to an increased risk of adverse events, such as hyperglycemia.

Preventing atrial fibrillation in COVID-19: exploring the role of interleukin-6 receptor antagonists

Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS

Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther, 2023;21(10):713-714.

PMID: 37791465 DOI: 10.1080/14779072.2023.2264774

Is molnupiravir a wise investment? Reassessing COVID-19 treatment strategies

Kow CS, Ramachandram DS, Hasan SS

J Antimicrob Chemother, 2023 Nov 06;78(11):2779-2780.

PMID: 37700684 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad275

Fulltext Patients' involvement in the care process: time to value nontraditional indicators in HIV care

Ahmed SI, Hasan SS, Babar MG

HIV Med, 2018 May 10.

PMID: 29745469 DOI: 10.1111/hiv.12620

Displaying publications 101 - 120 of 218 in total