Statistically significant lower risk is seen for mortality, ICU admission, hospitalization, and recovery. 26 studies from 26 independent teams in 15 countries show statistically significant improvements.
Meta analysis using the most serious outcome reported shows 28% [19‑37%] lower risk. Results are similar for higher quality and peer-reviewed studies and worse for Randomized Controlled Trials. Clinical outcomes suggest benefit while viral and case outcomes do not, consistent with an intervention that aids the immune system or recovery but may have limited antiviral effects.
Results are robust — in exclusion sensitivity analysis 23 of 53 studies must be excluded to avoid finding statistically significant efficacy in pooled analysis.
RCT results are less favorable, however they are dominated by the very late stage RECOVERY RCT which is not generalizable to earlier usage.
No treatment or intervention is 100% effective. All practical, effective, and safe means should be used based on risk/benefit analysis. Multiple treatments are typically used in combination, and other treatments are more effective.
All data to reproduce this paper and sources are in the appendix. Other meta analyses show significant improvements with colchicine for mortality Danjuma, Elshafei, Elshiwy, Golpour, Lien, Rai, Salah, Zein, oxygen therapy Elshiwy, hospitalization Kow, and severity Yasmin.
10 meta analyses show significant improvements with colchicine for mortality
Danjuma,
Elshafei,
Elshiwy,
Golpour,
Lien,
Rai,
Salah,
Zein,
oxygen therapy
Elshiwy,
hospitalization
Kow, and
severity
Yasmin.
Covid Analysis et al., Apr 2024, preprint, 1 author.
