Efficacy of Jinhua Qinggan Granules Combined With Western Medicine in the Treatment of Confirmed and Suspected COVID-19: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: To conduct a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy and prognostic value of Jinhua Qinggan granules in patients with confirmed and suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods: A total of 123 suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients participated in this clinical trial and were randomly divided into Jinhua and Western medicine groups. For 14 days, the Jinhua group was treated with Jinhua Qinggan granules and antiviral drugs, and the Western medicine group was treated with antiviral drugs alone. We collected information on clinical symptoms, disease aggravation rates, and negative conversion rates of nucleic acids in patients, and observed the effects of anti-infective drugs.Results: There was no significant difference in symptom improvement rates between the two groups, both confirmed and suspected patients (P > 0.05). Both treatments relieved symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and diarrhea. However, the Jinhua treatment was superior in relieving fever and poor appetite. Anti-infective drug use rates were significantly lower in the Jinhua group than in the control group.Conclusion: Jinhua Qinggan granules combined with Western medicine could relieve the clinical symptoms of fever and poor appetite in COVID-19 patients, reduce the use of antibiotics to a certain extent.Clinical Trial Registration: The registration number at China Clinical Trial Registry is ChiCTR2000029601.

Jinhua Qinggan Granules for Nonhospitalized COVID-19 Patients: a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The post-treatment SARS-CoV2 negative test rate for JHQG and placebo groups was 38.00% and 42.67% respectively. Though there was no statistically significant difference in SARS-CoV2 negative test rate in both groups (P>0.05), it was higher (38%) than a previous study (8.3%) [23].…”

“…In the 2009 H1N1 flu, studies have shown that the combined treatment of JHQG and oseltamivir can shorten the duration of fever [19,20]. JHQG has shown a significant effect on treating mild COVID-19 related symptoms by shortening the period of fever, reducing inflammation, and improving symptoms [21][22][23]. JHQG is synthesized from Maxingshigan Decoction and Yinqiao Powder, and have the effects of "soothing wind," ventilating the lungs, and clearing away heat and toxic materials [23].…”

“…A previous study reported that JHQG could shorten the duration of fever, reduce the use of antibiotics and alleviate respiratory symptoms in patients with influenza A H1N1 [24]. In a recent RCT, JHQG granules combined with western medicine relieved the clinical symptoms of fever and poor appetite in COVID-19 patients and reduced the use of antibiotics to a certain extent [23]. It was suggested that certain compounds in JHQG could bind to specific target proteins and inhibit the activity of SARS-CoV-2 as revealed by high-throughput molecular docking and network pharmacology studies [25].…”

“…In recent studies of JHQG in COVID-19 patients, JHQG was reported to increase the viral clearance rate in COVID-19 patients as evidenced by an increased proportion of patients with negative nucleic acid tests after JHQG treatment [15]. It has further been studied in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) which demonstrated that COVID-19 patients treated with JHQG combined with Western medications (oseltamivir and arbidol) showed increased improvement in fever and fatigue compared with patients treated with the antivirals alone [16]. Nevertheless, the efficacy and safety of the independent use of JHQG in the treatment of COVID-19 patients for the prevention of disease progression remain to be elucidated.…”

Jinhua Qinggan granules for non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized controlled trial

“…In recent studies of JHQG in patients with COVID-19, JHQG was reported to increase the viral clearance rate in patients with COVID-19 as evidenced by an increased proportion of patients with negative nucleic acid tests after JHQG treatment ( 16 ). It has further been studied in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) which demonstrated that patients with COVID-19 treated with JHQG combined with Western medications (oseltamivir and arbidol) showed an increased improvement in fever and fatigue compared with patients treated with the antivirals alone ( 18 ). Nevertheless, the efficacy and safety of the independent use of JHQG in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 for the prevention of disease progression remain to be elucidated.…”