Before the study was conducted, all participating centers obtained
institutional review board (IRB) approval. Primary IRB approval was
issued in Aswan University by Aswan faculty of medicine ethics committee
(date: 11/2/2020; reference number: Aswu/439/2/20). The study was
approved by the Inonu University scientific research and ethical
committee on 3/3/2020 (reference number: 2020/476), by Ege
University IRB on 14/4/2020 (reference number: 20-4.1 T/3), by
Fatima memorial hospital/college of medicine and dentistry on 5/12/2020
(reference number: FMH-03-2020-IRB747-M), by Van Yuzuncu
yil University ethical board on 09/06/2020 (reference number:
55163642-100-E.36909), by Kazan State University local ethical
committee on 30/6/2020 (reference number: 1765), by Centro
Hospitalar São João ethics committee on 21/5/2020 (reference
number: 76/2020), National Taiwan University College of Medicine
ethical committee on 30/3/2020 (reference number: 202003007RINC),
Faculty of Medicine of University of Yaoundé I ethical committee on
25/2/2020 (reference numbers: 1019/CIERSH/DM/2020). Both Peking
University Shenzhen Hospital and Universitas Padjadjaran Bandung were
waived for the minimal risk per their local hospital policies.