COVID-19 Evidence Alerts
from McMaster PLUS^TM

Background: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) JingYinGuBiao formula (JYGB) was recommended by the Expert consensus on Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 infection in Shanghai. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of JYGB in treating mild COVID-19 patients. Methods: A prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted (ClinicalTrial.gov registration number: ChiCTR2200058695). A total of 885 patients were randomized into the treatment group (administration of JYGB,n=508) or the control group (administration of TCM placebo, n=377) with 7-day treatment. The primary outcomes were the negative conversion rate and negative conversion time of SARS-CoV2 RNA. Secondary outcomes included the hospitalized days and symptom improvement. Results: A total of 490 and 368 patients in the treatment and control groups completed the study. The cumulative negative conversion rates at 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, and 6 days post randomization in the treatment group were all markedly higher than those in the control group (13.88% vs. 9.24%, P=0.04; 32.24% vs. 16.58%, P<0.001; 51.43% vs. 36.14%, P <0.001; 77.76% vs. 69.84%, P=0.008). Compared with the control group, after JYGB treatment, the median negative conversion time (4.0 [3.0-6.0] vs. 5.0 [4.0-7.0] days, P<0.001) and hospitalized days (6.0 [4.0-8.0] vs. 7.0 [5.0-9.0] days, P<0.001) were reduced. While the symptoms were improved, there were no significant differences in symptom disappearance rates between both groups. In addition, further sub-group analysis showed that for patients with interval time =4 days or patients= 60 years, the clinical effects of JYGB were more remarkable with an increase in cumulative negative conversion rates, a decrease in negative conversion time and hospitalized days. JYGB was well tolerated without any severe side effects. Conclusion: JYGB, a TCM prescription, improves the negative conversion rate of SARS-CoV2 in mild COVID-19 patients.