Table 1 Description of the included studies

Type of article

 Living evidence synthesis

59

28

 Non-living evidence synthesis

28

13

 Empirical article (not evidence synthesis)

14

7

 Non-empirical article (e.g., commentary, editorial, etc.)

109

52

Produced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

59

28

Sector that is most relevant^a

  Public-health measures

23

11

  Clinical management

84

40

  Health-system arrangements

5

2

  Economic and social responses

4

2

  No particular focus

107

51

Thematic categories^a

  1. Definition of an LES

94

45

  2. Methods to assess the need and produce an LES

108

51

  3. When to produce an LES

70

33

  4. When to update an LES

73

35

  5. Dissemination of LES findings

70

33

  6. When to discontinue updates to an LES

22

11