Chinese medicine for coronavirus disease 2019 as complementary therapy: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess effectiveness and safety of Chinese medicine (CM) as complementary therapy in treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

METHODS

The following databases will be searched: PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, and Wanfang database from October 1, 2019 to March 1, 2020. Randomized trials and quasi-randomized or prospective controlled clinical trials of CM that reported data on COVID-19 patients will be included. Study selection, data extraction, quality assessment, and assessment of risk bias will be performed by 2 reviewers independently. Odds ratios and correlative 95% confidence intervals will be calculated to present the association between the CM and CWM using Review Manager version 5.3 when there is sufficient available data.

RESULTS

The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal publication.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review findings will summarize up-to-date evidence for that CM is more effective and safe as adjunctive treatment for patients with COVID-19.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval and patient consent are not required as this study is a systematic review based on published articles.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020185382.