Selecting Treatments During an Infectious Disease Pandemic: Chasing the Evidence

Ann Intern Med. 2021 Oct;174(10):1464-1465. doi: 10.7326/M21-3221. Epub 2021 Aug 17.

Abstract

In their article, Mehta and colleagues describe temporal trends in the use of hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, and dexamethasone for the treatment of COVID-19 in patients hospitalized in the United States over a 13-month period beginning in February 2020. The editorialists discuss the findings and lessons learned from COVID-19 that will improve how we assess and disseminate emerging data leading to efficient, evidence-based implementation (or deimplementation) of treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Communicable Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Respiration, Artificial

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Antiviral Agents