Comparative Efficacy and Safety of the Artemisinin Derivatives in Severe Malaria treatment; a network meta-analysis (Data)

Introduction

This data was produced for a systematic review update and Network Meta-analyses (NMA) which was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines extension. The NMA protocol was registered with PROSPERO registration number CRD42020218190 . Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the artemisinin derivatives and quinine for treating severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Outcomes Assessed
Outcomes have pharmacological and clinical relevance.
Primary Outcome
1. Mortality.
The proportion of death from all causes was compared between all interventions from onset of treatment.
Secondary Outcomes
1. Neurological Sequela Events among survivors
The proportion of patients developing neurological sequela was evaluated among those who survived. Subgroup analyses included time-point of neurological sequela assessment (acute vs persistent).
2. Coma Recovery time
Mean time in hours from start of treatment to coma recovery was compared among interventions.
3. Parasite Clearance time
The mean time in hours from initial administration of antimalarial absence of malaria parasites in blood-film was compared between treatments.
4. Fever Clearance Time
The mean time in hours from initial administration of antimalarial to consecutive normothermia (defined in some studies as < 37.5 Degrees Celsius) was compared between treatments.
5. Adverse events
The proportion of patients experiencing adverse events after treatment was initiated was compared. Both specific events and composite measures were explored. The most frequently reported adverse events were included in the NMA and the others were reported in a table as number of events and proportion experiencing the event.

Data was prepared suitable for NMA random effect model in a frequentist framework using R (version 3.6.0) netmeta package (version 1.2-1). R script for the analyses can be found in the following link;
https://github.com/nyaaba-nick/A-Comparative-Efficacy-and-Safety-of-the-Artemisinin-Derivatives-a-Network-Meta-Analyses-R-Script-