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Meta-Analysis
. 2018 Mar 13;17(1):110.
doi: 10.1186/s12936-018-2265-x.

Efficacy and safety of artemisinin-based combination therapy for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Sudan: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ishag Adam  1 , Yassin Ibrahim  2 , Gasim I Gasim  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Efficacy and safety of artemisinin-based combination therapy for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Sudan: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ishag Adam et al. Malar J. .

Abstract

Background: Malaria is a major public health problem in endemic countries including Sudan, where about 75% of populations are at risk. Due to widespread of chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is currently treatment of choice for malaria in the vast majority of malaria-endemic countries. This systematic review and meta-analysis is performed to obtain an overall stronger evidence of the outcomes of ACT in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria from the existing literature in Sudan.

Methods: The preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis statement were used to select studies to be included in this review. A computerized systematic strategy was adopted to search articles from PubMed, Google Scholar and Science Direct databases. Unpublished materials were also included. Open Meta-Analyst software was used to perform the meta-analysis. Random effects model was used to combine the included studies and the heterogeneity of studies was assessed using Cochrane Q and I2 (χ2 = 73.05, df (19), P < 0.001 and I2 = 73.99).

Results: Twenty studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria (ACT in the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria) and were included in the final analysis with a total number of 4070 participants. Malaria treatment outcome was assessed using World Health Organization guidelines. Adequate clinical and parasitological response was used to assess treatment success at the 28th day. Treatment success of all combined studies was 98% [(95% CI 97.2-98.8%), P < 0.001]. Treatment success was higher in malaria patients treated with artemether + lumefantrine (AL) than patients treated with artesunate + sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (AS + SP) (98.9% (95% CI 98.4-99.4%) vs 97.1% (95% CI 95.5-98.6%), P < 0.001). Eleven studies reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to ACT (184 participants out of 3957 (4.65%). The ADRs were mild and resolved spontaneously. There was no severe ADRs or deaths.

Conclusion: Based on this review, the overall malaria treatment success was high (98%). AL regimen showed higher efficacy compared to AS + SP. The overall regimens were associated with mild low rates ADRs.

Keywords: Efficacy; Malaria; Meta-analysis; Outcome; Plasmodium; Sudan; Systematic review; Treatment.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram showing the number of articles identified in the systematic review and meta-analysis on anti-malarial treatment outcomes in Sudan
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The overall treatment success of artemisinin-based combination therapy
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The overall treatment success of artemether + lumefantrine
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The overall treatment success of artesunate + sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. WHO. Malaria diagnosis and treatment guidelines for health workers in Ethiopia. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014. http://www.who.int/countries/eth/publications/malaria_treatment.pdf.
    1. WHO. World Malaria Report 2015. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2015. http://www.who.int/malaria/publications/world-malaria-report-2015/report.... Accessed 8 Apr 2015.
    1. WHO . Status report on artemisinin resistance. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014.
    1. WHO. Malaria country profiles 2016: Sudan. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017. http://www.who.int/malaria/publications/country-profiles/profile_sdn_en..... Accessed 26 Feb 2017.

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