Ivermectin: Cochrane ’s most talked about review so far, ever. Why?

In this author interview with Stephanie Weibel and Maria Popp, we find out more about their Cochrane review, Ivermectin for treating and preventing COVID-19. The review currently has an Altmetric Attention Score of more than 7000, which makes it the most talked-about review in the history of the Cochrane Library.Briefly, what is Ivermectin?Ivermectin is a medicine used to kill parasites, such as intestinal worms (helminths) in animals or scabies in humans. It is inexpensive and it is widely used in regions of the world where parasitic infestations are common, such as in parts of Asia and South America. Ivermectin has few unwanted effects at low doses.Before the COVID-19 pandemic, some laboratory studies had shown that ivermectin could slow down the reproduction of some viruses, such as the dengue fever virus. In April 2020, similar laboratory tests suggested a weak effect on slowing reproduction of the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2. During 2020, more than 30 clinical studies were started to test ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19 in humans. Several of the small, early studies have since completed. Some of these studies suggested higher survival rates with ivermectin. This led some advocacy groups to lobby for the widespread introduction of ivermectin in the fight against COVID-19 across the world. However, the true effect of ivermectin on COVID-19 is a matter of ongoing debate.Tell us briefly what did your Cochrane review find?We searched for randomized studies t...
Source: Cochrane News and Events - Category: Information Technology Authors: Source Type: news