Interleukin-6 inhibitors reduce mortality in coronavirus disease-2019: An individual patient data meta-analysis from randomized controlled trials

•IL-6 inhibitors reduce the risk of death in COVID-19 hospitalized patients.•IL-6 inhibitors decrease the odds for intubation in COVID-19 hospitalized patients.•IL-6 inhibitors increase the odds for discharge in COVID-19 hospitalized patients.•This is the first meta-analysis of individualized patient data regarding COVID-19. To assess the efficacy of IL-6 inhibitors compared to standard of care (SOC) in COVID-19 patients. A systematic review of the MEDLINE and Scopus databases (last search: October 8th, 2021) was performed according to the PRISMA statement. Randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing IL-6 inhibitors to SOC in hospitalized COVID-19 patients were deemed eligible. Individual patient data were extracted from the Kaplan-Meier curves or were obtained from authors of included studies. Additionally, the reviewers independently abstracted data and assessed study quality of each eligible report. Eleven studies were identified, incorporating 7467 patients (IL-6 inhibitors: 4103, SOC: 3364). IL-6 inhibitors were associated with decreased risk for death compared to SOC at the one-stage meta-analysis (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 0.75, 95% Confidence interval [CI]: 0.69–0.82, p