No survival benefits in COVID-19 cases after taking HCQ say scientists
Washington, June 07: Researchers have found that the drug hydroxychloroquine - with or without the antibiotic azithromycin - did not reduce the risk of ventilation or death, and was associated with longer length of hospital stay in Covid-19 patients.
The analysis, published in the journal Med, is the first in the US to report data on hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) outcomes for Covid-19 from a nationwide integrated health system.
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"Among patients hospitalised with Covid-19, this retrospective study did not identify any significant reduction in mortality or in the need for mechanical ventilation with hydroxychloroquine treatment with or without azithromycin," the researchers noted.
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According to the scientists, including those from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in the US, the research assessed data from 807 people hospitalised with Covid-19 at Veterans Affairs medical centers around the country.
They
said
about
half
of
the
patients,
did
not
receive
HCQ
at
any
time
during
their
hospitalisation.
Among
those
who
did,
the
study
noted
that
198
patients
were
treated
with
HCQ
and
214
were
treated
with
both
hydroxychloroquine
and
azithromycin.
It said about 86 per cent of the patients given HCQ received it before being put on a mechanical ventilator.
After adjusting for other clinical characteristics, the scientists said the risk of death from any cause was higher in the HCQ group but not in the 'hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin' group when these were compared with the no-hydroxychloroquine group.
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The researchers also found that the length of hospital stay was 33 per cent longer in the HCQ group and 38 per cent longer in the 'hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin' group than in the no-HCQ group.
They
said
pre-existing
conditions
like
cardiovascular
disease,
chronic
obstructive
pulmonary
disease,
and
diabetes
were
relatively
common
and
similar
across
all
groups.
The
study,
according
to
the
scientists,
had
strengths
that
earlier
research
did
not
have.
Citing
an
example,
they
said
the
current
study
employed
data
from
comprehensive
electronic
medical
records,
rather
than
administrative
health
insurance
claims.
With
this,
the
researchers
said,
they
were
able
to
apply
rigorously
identified
patient
outcomes.
Since
the
data
came
from
an
integrated
national
healthcare
system,
they
said
the
findings
were
less
susceptible
to
biases
that
might
occur
in
a
single-center
or
regional
study.
Mentioning the limitations of the research, they said the median age in their study was about the same age as that in other studies of hospitalised patients -- 70 years -- but since the patients were older, the findings might not apply to younger people with Covid-19.
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However,
the
scientists
said
a
quarter
of
patients
ranged
from
22
to
60
years
old.
The
patients
in
the
study
were
also
overwhelmingly
male
--
nearly
96
per
cent
--
they
said,
reflecting
the
demographics
of
veterans.
According to the researchers, the findings don't provide insight into the use of these drugs in the outpatient setting or as prophylaxis. They added that the US Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health have both advised against the use of hydroxychloroquine outside of clinical trials.