(30 Aug 2020) Hydroxychloroquine- associated with a 30% lower risk of death in COVID-19 hospitalized patients

Use of hydroxychloroquine in hospitalised COVID-19 patients is associated with reduced mortality: Findings from the observational multicentre Italian CORIST study

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2020.08.019

In a retrospective observational study, 3,451 unselected patients hospitalized in 33 clinical centers in Italy. Out of 3,451 COVID-19 patients, 76.3% received HCQ. Death rates (per 1,000 person-days) for patients receiving or not HCQ were 8.9 and 15.7, respectively. After adjustment for propensity scores, we found 30% lower risk of death in patients receiving HCQ (HR=0.70; 95%CI: 0.59 to 0.84; E-value=1.67). Secondary analyses yielded similar results. The inverse association of HCQ with inpatient mortality was particularly evident in patients having elevated C-reactive protein at entry. HCQ use was associated with a 30% lower risk of death in COVID-19 hospitalized patients.