Open AccessEfficacy of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a meta-analysis
Author(s) -
Jiawen Deng,
Fangwen Zhou,
Kiyan Heybati,
Saif Ali,
Qi Zuo,
Wenteng Hou,
Thanansayan Dhivagaran,
Harikrishnaa Ba Ramaraju,
Oswin Chang,
Chi Yi Wong,
Zachary Silver
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
future virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.462
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1746-0808
pISSN - 1746-0794
DOI - 10.2217/fvl-2021-0119
Subject(s) - hydroxychloroquine , medicine , chloroquine , azithromycin , odds ratio , incidence (geometry) , meta analysis , adverse effect , odds , covid-19 , logistic regression , malaria , pathology , physics , disease , optics , infectious disease (medical specialty) , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , antibiotics
Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine, with or without azithromycin, in treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Materials & methods: Data from randomized and observational studies were included in a random-effects meta-analysis. Primary outcomes included time to negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 tests, length of stay, mortality, incidence of mechanical ventilation, time to normalization of body temperature, incidence of adverse events and incidence of QT prolongations. Results: Fifty-one studies (n = 61,221) were included. Hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine showed no efficacy in all primary efficacy outcomes, but was associated with increased odds of QT prolongations. Conclusion: Due to a lack of efficacy and increased odds of cardiac adverse events, hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine should not be used for treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients.