Open AccessMass deworming for improving health and cognition of children in endemic helminth areas: A systematic review and individual participant data network meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Welch Vivian A.,
Ghogomu Elizabeth,
Hossain Alomgir,
Riddle Alison,
Gaffey Michelle,
Arora Paul,
Dewidar Omar,
Salam Rehana,
Cousens Simon,
Black Robert,
Hollingsworth T. Déirdre,
Horton Sue,
Tugwell Peter,
Bundy Donald,
Castro Mary Christine,
Elliott Alison,
Friis Henrik,
Le Huong T.,
Liu Chengfang,
Rousham Emily K.,
Rohner Fabian,
King Charles,
Sartono Erliyani,
Supali Taniawati,
Steinmann Peter,
Webb Emily,
Wieringa Franck,
Winnichagoon Pattanee,
Yazdanbakhsh Maria,
Bhutta Zulfiqar A.,
Wells George
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
campbell systematic reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.295
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 1891-1803
DOI - 10.1002/cl2.1058
Subject(s) - deworming , meta analysis , medicine , cinahl , cochrane library , randomized controlled trial , medline , population , psychological intervention , demography , environmental health , psychiatry , biology , immunology , biochemistry , sociology , helminths
Background Soil transmitted (or intestinal) helminths and schistosomes affect millions of children worldwide. Objectives To use individual participant data network meta‐analysis (NMA) to explore the effects of different types and frequency of deworming drugs on anaemia, cognition and growth across potential effect modifiers. Search Methods We developed a search strategy with an information scientist to search MEDLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Econlit, Internet Documents in Economics Access Service (IDEAS), Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS), Social Services Abstracts, Global Health CABI and CAB Abstracts up to March 27, 2018. We also searched grey literature, websites, contacted authors and screened references of relevant systematic reviews. Selection Criteria We included randomised and quasirandomised deworming trials in children for deworming compared to placebo or other interventions with data on baseline infection. Data Collection and Analysis We conducted NMA with individual participant data (IPD), using a frequentist approach for random‐effects NMA. The covariates were: age, sex, weight, height, haemoglobin and infection intensity. The effect estimate chosen was the mean difference for the continuous outcome of interest. Results We received data from 19 randomized controlled trials with 31,945 participants. Overall risk of bias was low. There were no statistically significant subgroup effects across any of the potential effect modifiers. However, analyses showed that there may be greater effects on weight for moderate to heavily infected children (very low certainty evidence). Authors' Conclusions This analysis reinforces the case against mass deworming at a population‐level, finding little effect on nutritional status or cognition. However, children with heavier intensity infections may benefit more. We urge the global community to adopt calls to make data available in open repositories to facilitate IPD analyses such as this, which aim to assess effects for the most vulnerable individuals.