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Meta-Analysis
. 2024 Jan-Dec:29:2515690X241258403.
doi: 10.1177/2515690X241258403.

Alkalinization Using Sodium Bicarbonate for COVID-19 Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Arman Shafiee  1 , Kyana Jafarabady  1 , Hassan Moltazemi  1 , Mohammad Javad Amini  1 , Mohammad Ali Rafiei  2 , Amirhossein Akhondi  1 , Sayed-Hamidreza Mozhgani  3   4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Alkalinization Using Sodium Bicarbonate for COVID-19 Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Arman Shafiee et al. J Evid Based Integr Med. 2024 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

Background: A systematic review and meta-analysis have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of alkalinization for COVID-19 patients based on current evidence to determine the impact of alkalinization on COVID-19 outcomes.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE (Pubmed), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov for studies evaluating the efficacy of alkalinization up to 30 April 2023. Based on the PRISMA 2020 statement criteria a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies were performed.

Results: The results of our meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in mortality rate in the alkalinization group compared to controls (RR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.56-0.95; I2 = 0%). However, our subgroup analysis showed no significant improvement in RCT-only studies (RR 0.78, 95% CI: 0.59-1.05; I2 = 0%), the recovery rate was significantly higher in the alkalinization group (RR 2.13, 95% CI: 1.39-3.26; I2 = 0%), duration of recovery also has improved in alkalinization group (SMD 0.76, 95% CI: 0.33-1.18; I2 = 0%). The results of our meta-analysis showed a significant reduction in the duration of hospitalization in the alkalinization group compared to controls with very low certainty of evidence (SMD -0.66, 95% CI: -0.97 to -0.35; I2 = 36%).

Conclusion: With low certainty of evidence, alkalinization (by sodium bicarbonate) can be an efficient and safe adjuvant treatment for COVID-19 patients. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to strengthen the available evidence.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; alkalinization; mortality; sodium bicarbonate; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declare that they have no known competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA flow diagram.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Results of the meta-analysis for (a) mortality, (b) hospitalization, and (c) recovery.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Results of the meta-analysis for (a) duration of hospitalization, and (b) duration of recovery.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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