Deaths Higher Among Those Given Hydroxychloroquine

Study on malaria drug has yet to be peer reviewed
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 21, 2020 3:02 PM CDT
Deaths Higher Among Those Given Drug Trump Is Touting
This Monday, April 6, 2020 file photo shows an arrangement of hydroxychloroquine pills in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo/John Locher)

A malaria drug widely touted by President Trump for treating the new coronavirus showed no benefit in a large analysis of its use in US veterans hospitals. There were more deaths among those given hydroxychloroquine versus standard care, researchers reported. The nationwide study was not a rigorous experiment. But with 368 patients, it’s the largest look so far at hydroxychloroquine with or without the antibiotic azithromycin for COVID-19. The study was posted on an online site for researchers and has been submitted to the New England Journal of Medicine, but has not been reviewed by other scientists. 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.

The AP reports 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 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. 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.

(More coronavirus stories.)

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