Impact of hydroxychloroquine on disease progression and ICU admissions in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection

https://doi.org/10.1093/ajhp/zxab056

A retrospective, observational, cohort study was conducted to determine selected treatment outcomes in 336 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at an acute care, community hospital in the Hudson Valley region of New York from March 20 to April 20, 2020. In a multivariable model that included age, gender, obesity, diabetes, and hydroxychloroquine use, patients who received hydroxychloroquine were significantly more likely than those not treated with the drug to be transferred to an ICU (odds ratio, [OR], 8.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8-17) and significantly more likely to be intubated (OR, 7.99; 95% CI, 3.76-16.91); these associations were not influenced by disease severity. In-hospital mortality did not differ significantly with disease severity between those who did and those who did not receive hydroxychloroquine.  Hydroxychloroquine use was significantly associated with increased risks of ICU admission and intubation in patients with mild, moderate, and severe symptoms of COVID-19. There were no significant between-group differences in mortality with use vs nonuse of hydroxychloroquine.