Oral Janus kinase inhibitors for treating hospitalized patients with COVID-19: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the clinical efficacy and safety of oral Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) in the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched for relevant articles written before January 29, 2022. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the clinical efficacy and safety of oral JAKis in patients with COVID-19 were included. RESULTS: In the pooled analysis of the 7 RCTs, the all-cause 28-day mortality rate in the study group receiving JAKis was significantly lower than that in the control group (9.4% [183/1941] vs. 10.9% [184/1687], risk ratio [RR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58–0.81, I(2) = 0%). In addition, the risk of 14-day mortality was in the study group was lower than that in the control group (RR = 0.65, 95% CI, 0.46–0.92, I(2) = 0%). Finally, the study group and the control group exhibited similar risks of any adverse events (RR = 0.96, 95% CI, 0.89–1.04, I(2) = 0%). CONCLUSIONS: Oral JAKis can significantly reduce the risk of death among patients with COVID-19. In addition, JAKis are tolerable for hospitalized patients with COVID-19.