Hydroxychloroquine as treatment for COVID-19 shows no benefit and more deaths in VA study

President Trump has frequently touted the malaria drug as a potential breakthrough against the coronavirus-borne disease

A malaria drug widely touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus showed no benefit in a large analysis of its use in U.S. veterans hospitals. There were more deaths among those given hydroxychloroquine versus standard care, researchers reported.

‘I think we’re all rather underwhelmed.’— Dr. Nasia Safdar, University of Wisconsin
The nationwide study was not a rigorous experiment. But with 368 patients, it’s the largest look so far of hydroxychloroquine with or without the antibiotic azithromycin for COVID-19, which has killed more than 171,000 people as of Tuesday.

The study was posted on an online site for researchers and has been submitted to the New England Journal of Medicine, but it has not been reviewed by other scientists. Grants from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Virginia paid for the work.

See:Oxford University set to begin human trials of coronavirus vaccine

Researchers analyzed medical records of 368 male veterans hospitalized with confirmed coronavirus infection at Veterans Health Administration medical centers who died or were discharged by April 11.

About 28% who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died, versus 11% of those getting routine care alone. About 22% of those getting the drug plus azithromycin died, too, but the difference between that group and those receiving usual care was not considered large enough to rule out other factors that could have affected survival.

Hydroxychloroquine made no difference in the need for a breathing machine, either.

See:These experimental drugs may help keep COVID-19 patients off ventilators

Also: Health officials say more clinical data is needed to understand whether antibodies protect recovered COVID-19 patients

Researchers did not track side effects but noted hints that hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs. The drug has long been known to have potentially serious side effects, including altering the heartbeat in a way that could lead to sudden death.

Earlier this month, scientists in Brazil stopped part of a hydroxychloroquine study after heart-rhythm problems developed in one-quarter of people given the higher of two doses being tested.

Many doctors have been leery of the drug.

At the University of Wisconsin, Madison, “I think we’re all rather underwhelmed” at what’s been seen among the few patients there who’ve tried it, said Dr. Nasia Safdar, medical director of infection control and prevention.

Patients asked about it soon after Trump started promoting its use, and a couple in Arizona took chloroquine phosphate as a preventative with disastrous consequences, “but now I think that people have realized we don’t know if [hydroxychloroquine] works or not” and that the matter needs more study, said Safdar, who had no role in the VA analysis.

The NIH and others have more rigorous tests underway.

Read on:Gilead drug produced ‘rapid’ recovery in coronavirus patients, report says

Patients asked about it soon after Trump started promoting its use, and a couple in Arizona took chloroquine phosphate as a preventative with disastrous consequences, “but now I think that people have realized we don’t know if [hydroxychloroquine] works or not” and that the matter needs more study, said Safdar, who had no role in the VA analysis.

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Earlier this month, scientists in Brazil stopped part of a hydroxychloroquine study after heart-rhythm problems developed in one-quarter of people given the higher of two doses being tested.

Many doctors have been leery of the drug.

At the University of Wisconsin, Madison, “I think we’re all rather underwhelmed” at what’s been seen among the few patients there who’ve tried it, said Dr. Nasia Safdar, medical director of infection control and prevention.

And just like that, a common drug that has been in use for 50 years is now dangerous.

It's been dangerous with some people saying the side effects are worse than Covid. My co-worker is from Nigeria and was talking about having to take hydroxychloroquine most of his life prior to moving to the states. He said it was horrible but a necessity.

it is no shock to me the hydroxychloroquine hasn't been a solution. It didn't fit the underlying pathology as a treatment.

the origination of the thought was from china where doctors anecdotally noticed their lupus patients on plaquenil (tradename for hcq) had less infections than their other patients from covid. There was thought to be a link between the hcq and protection. More studies are being done across multiple countries to see if this anecdotal evidence even exists.

So the initial thought was it helped protect, not treat. but that got extrapolated to treat because those close to death from covid were in bad shape and lets see what helps kind of thinking.

all his life huh? Horrible? More horrible than ******* dying?

Holy [censored] people, learn to [censored] comprehend what you read......

all his life huh? Horrible? More horrible than ******* dying?

There! I can't write it out in crayons for you but I can make it red like one.....

Evidently you can't even make it red.

Evidently you can't even make it red.

I thought chopped made it very clear that it had a lot of side effects but it saved the dude's life and he was willing to take it

Can't be, DR Trump said it was the miracle cure.

Can't be, DR Trump said it was the miracle cure.