(28 Aug 2020) Hydroxychloroquine- low-dose HCQ monotherapy was independently associated with lower mortality in hospitalized patients

Low-dose Hydroxychloroquine Therapy and Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Nationwide Observational Study of 8075 Participants

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.106144

Of 8075 patients with complete discharge data on 24(th) of May and diagnosed before the 1(st) of May, 4542 received HCQ in monotherapy and 3533 were in the no-HCQ group. Death was reported in 804/4542 (17.7%) and 957/3533 (27.1%), respectively. In the multivariable analysis, the mortality was lower in the HCQ group compared to the no-HCQ group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.684, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.617-0.758). Compared to the no-HCQ group, mortality in the HCQ group was reduced both in patients diagnosed </= 5 days (n=3975) and > 5 days (n=3487) after symptom onset (adjusted HR 0.701, 95% CI 0.617-0.796 and adjusted HR 0.647, 95% CI 0.525-0.797, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to supportive care only, low-dose HCQ monotherapy was independently associated with lower mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 diagnosed and treated early or later after symptom onset.