Prospective study of zinc levels in 47 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 45 healthy controls. COVID-19 patients had significantly lower zinc levels (74.5 vs. 105.8 median μg/dl,
p < 0.001). 57.4% of COVID-19 patients were zinc deficient, and they had higher rates of complications, ARDS, prolonged hospital stay, and increased mortality.
Jothimani et al., 9/10/2020, prospective, India, South Asia, peer-reviewed, 11 authors.
risk of death, 89.7% lower, RR 0.10, p = 0.06, treatment 0 of 20 (0.0%), control 5 of 27 (18.5%), continuity correction due to zero event (with reciprocal of the contrasting arm).
risk of ICU admission, 92.4% lower, RR 0.08, p = 0.02, treatment 0 of 20 (0.0%), control 7 of 27 (25.9%), continuity correction due to zero event (with reciprocal of the contrasting arm).
Effect extraction follows pre-specified rules prioritizing more serious
outcomes. For an individual study the most serious outcome may have a smaller
number of events and lower statistical signficance, however this provides the
strongest evidence for the most serious outcomes when combining the results of
many trials.