Research response to coronavirus disease 2019 needed better coordination and collaboration: a living mapping of registered trials

Abstract: Objectives
Researchers worldwide are actively engaging in research activities to search for preventive and therapeutic interventions against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our aim was to describe the planning of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in terms of timing related to the course of the COVID-19 epidemic and research question evaluated.

Study Design and Setting
We performed a living mapping of RCTs registered in the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. We systematically search the platform every week for all RCTs evaluating preventive interventions and treatments for COVID-19 and created a publicly available interactive mapping tool at https://covid-nma.com to visualize all trials registered.

Results
By August 12, 2020, 1,568 trials for COVID-19 were registered worldwide. Overall, the median ([Q1–Q3]; range) delay between the first case recorded in each country and the first RCT registered was 47 days ([33–67]; 15–163). For the 9 countries with the highest number of trials registered, most trials were registered after the peak of the epidemic (from 100% trials in Italy to 38% in the United States). Most trials evaluated treatments (1,333 trials; 85%); only 223 (14%) evaluated preventive strategies and 12 postacute period intervention. A total of 254 trials were planned to assess different regimens of hydroxychloroquine with an expected sample size of 110,883 patients.

Conclusion
This living mapping analysis showed that COVID-19 trials have relatively small sample size with certain redundancy in research questions. Most trials were registered when the first peak of the pandemic has passed

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Journal of clinical epidemiology. - 130 (2021) , 107-116, ISSN: 1878-5921

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Freiburg
• (who): Universität
• (when): 2021
• Creator: Nguyen, Van Thu ; Rivière, Philippe ; Ripoll, Pierre ; Barnier, Julien ; Vuillemot, Romain ; Ferrand, Gabriel ; Cohen-Boulakia, Sarah ; Ravaud, Philippe ; Boutron, Isabelle ; Bollig, Claudia ; Meerpohl, Jörg J. ; Schmucker, Christine ; The COVID-NMA Consortium Team, Study Group

Further information

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.10.010
• URN: urn:nbn:de:bsz:25-freidok-1760690
• Rights: Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:26 AM CEST