Effectiveness of contact tracing apps for SARS-CoV-2: a rapid systematic review
Objective To systematically review evidence on effectiveness of contact tracing apps (CTAs) for SARS-CoV-2 on epidemiological and clinical outcomes.Design Rapid systematic review.Data sources EMBASE (OVID), MEDLINE (PubMed), BioRxiv and MedRxiv were searched up to 28 October 2020.Study selection Stu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2021-07-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e050519.full |
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| author | Karel G M Moons Johanna A A G Damen Lotty Hooft Robin W M Vernooij Kevin Jenniskens René Spijker Martin C J Bootsma Michiel S Oerbekke Mirjam E E Kretzschmar |
| author_facet | Karel G M Moons Johanna A A G Damen Lotty Hooft Robin W M Vernooij Kevin Jenniskens René Spijker Martin C J Bootsma Michiel S Oerbekke Mirjam E E Kretzschmar |
| author_sort | Karel G M Moons |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective To systematically review evidence on effectiveness of contact tracing apps (CTAs) for SARS-CoV-2 on epidemiological and clinical outcomes.Design Rapid systematic review.Data sources EMBASE (OVID), MEDLINE (PubMed), BioRxiv and MedRxiv were searched up to 28 October 2020.Study selection Studies, both empirical and model-based, assessing effect of CTAs for SARS-CoV-2 on reproduction number (R), total number of infections, hospitalisation rate, mortality rate, and other epidemiologically and clinically relevant outcomes, were eligible for inclusion.Data extraction Empirical and model-based studies were critically appraised using separate checklists. Data on type of study (ie, empirical or model-based), sample size, (simulated) time horizon, study population, CTA type (and associated interventions), comparator and outcomes assessed, were extracted. The most important findings were extracted and narratively summarised. Specifically for model-based studies, characteristics and values of important model parameters were collected.Results 2140 studies were identified, of which 17 studies (2 empirical, 15 model-based studies) were eligible and included in this review. Both empirical studies were observational (non-randomised) studies and at high risk of bias, most importantly due to risk of confounding. Risk of bias of model-based studies was considered low for 12 out of 15 studies. Most studies demonstrated beneficial effects of CTAs on R, total number of infections and mortality rate. No studies assessed effect on hospitalisation. Effect size was dependent on model parameters values used, but in general, a beneficial effect was observed at CTA adoption rates of 20% or higher.Conclusions CTAs have the potential to be effective in reducing SARS-CoV-2 related epidemiological and clinical outcomes, though effect size depends on other model parameters (eg, proportion of asymptomatic individuals, or testing delays), and interventions after CTA notification. Methodologically sound comparative empirical studies on effectiveness of CTAs are required to confirm findings from model-based studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-563291ebc2d7405ca5450e3ef0971c0b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-563291ebc2d7405ca5450e3ef0971c0b2025-08-20T01:47:21ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552021-07-0111710.1136/bmjopen-2021-050519Effectiveness of contact tracing apps for SARS-CoV-2: a rapid systematic reviewKarel G M Moons0Johanna A A G Damen1Lotty Hooft2Robin W M Vernooij3Kevin Jenniskens4René Spijker5Martin C J Bootsma6Michiel S Oerbekke7Mirjam E E Kretzschmar8professor of clinical epidemiologyPhD fellowCochrane Netherlands, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlandsmethodologistassistant professorinformation specialistDepartment of Epidemiology, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The NetherlandsCochrane Netherlands, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Epidemiology, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The NetherlandsObjective To systematically review evidence on effectiveness of contact tracing apps (CTAs) for SARS-CoV-2 on epidemiological and clinical outcomes.Design Rapid systematic review.Data sources EMBASE (OVID), MEDLINE (PubMed), BioRxiv and MedRxiv were searched up to 28 October 2020.Study selection Studies, both empirical and model-based, assessing effect of CTAs for SARS-CoV-2 on reproduction number (R), total number of infections, hospitalisation rate, mortality rate, and other epidemiologically and clinically relevant outcomes, were eligible for inclusion.Data extraction Empirical and model-based studies were critically appraised using separate checklists. Data on type of study (ie, empirical or model-based), sample size, (simulated) time horizon, study population, CTA type (and associated interventions), comparator and outcomes assessed, were extracted. The most important findings were extracted and narratively summarised. Specifically for model-based studies, characteristics and values of important model parameters were collected.Results 2140 studies were identified, of which 17 studies (2 empirical, 15 model-based studies) were eligible and included in this review. Both empirical studies were observational (non-randomised) studies and at high risk of bias, most importantly due to risk of confounding. Risk of bias of model-based studies was considered low for 12 out of 15 studies. Most studies demonstrated beneficial effects of CTAs on R, total number of infections and mortality rate. No studies assessed effect on hospitalisation. Effect size was dependent on model parameters values used, but in general, a beneficial effect was observed at CTA adoption rates of 20% or higher.Conclusions CTAs have the potential to be effective in reducing SARS-CoV-2 related epidemiological and clinical outcomes, though effect size depends on other model parameters (eg, proportion of asymptomatic individuals, or testing delays), and interventions after CTA notification. Methodologically sound comparative empirical studies on effectiveness of CTAs are required to confirm findings from model-based studies.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e050519.full |
| spellingShingle | Karel G M Moons Johanna A A G Damen Lotty Hooft Robin W M Vernooij Kevin Jenniskens René Spijker Martin C J Bootsma Michiel S Oerbekke Mirjam E E Kretzschmar Effectiveness of contact tracing apps for SARS-CoV-2: a rapid systematic review BMJ Open |
| title | Effectiveness of contact tracing apps for SARS-CoV-2: a rapid systematic review |
| title_full | Effectiveness of contact tracing apps for SARS-CoV-2: a rapid systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of contact tracing apps for SARS-CoV-2: a rapid systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of contact tracing apps for SARS-CoV-2: a rapid systematic review |
| title_short | Effectiveness of contact tracing apps for SARS-CoV-2: a rapid systematic review |
| title_sort | effectiveness of contact tracing apps for sars cov 2 a rapid systematic review |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/7/e050519.full |
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