“COVID KIT” AND ITS CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.1593742318096

• Palavras-chave: COVID-19; therapy; efficiency; adverse effects.

• Keywords: COVID-19; therapy; efficiency; adverse effects.

• Abstract:

  Introduction: With the emergence of Covid-19 and the rapid evolution of the pandemic, the lack of proven effective medicines brought about the need to adopt off-label treatments, with the aim of reducing patients' symptoms, the time of disease evolution and the rate of mortality. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), chloroquine (CQ), azithromycin (AZT) and ivermectin (IVT) were the most used medications in Brazil and became popularly known as the “Covid Kit”. Objectives: This study was carried out between June 2021 and October 2022 and aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of HCQ, CQ, AZT and IVT, alone or in combination, in the treatment of patients with COVID-19, in addition to verifying possible adverse effects, through a systematic review based on studies carried out on patients with Covid-19 who used these medications as treatment. Methodology: This review used the Cochrane Handbook methodological model. The methodology of the scientific articles that were used for data extraction was evaluated for quality using the Heyland qualification (EQM), considering EQM 8 to be of high quality. The databases used were Pubmed, MEDLINE and Portal Capes. Result: It was found that there are no benefits in the use (in safe doses) of HCQ/CQ, AZT and IVT alone or in combination, in relation to the evolution of the disease, reduction of symptoms and mortality. Despite the initial need to test experimental therapies, the “Covid Kit” currently does not prove to be more effective than usual symptomatic care.