1103: Meta-analysis Points to Hydroxychloroquine Benefit Outside Hospitals

1. Pooled data meta-analysis from five randomized controlled trials of hydroxychloroquine for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 noted that early use of the drug by people who were not hospitalized was associated with a statistically significant 24% decrease in risk of infection, hospitalization or death.
2. In the individual trials, the drug did not show a statistically significant impact on prevention or treatment.
3. The meta-analysis pools together the studies and increases statistical power," mentioned Dr. Joseph Ladapo of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
4. Infections, hospitalizations and deaths were grouped together into a composite outcome.
5. Combining all those events increases the likelihood that researchers will find that treatment had a significant effect.
6. Seven nonrandomized controlled trials have demonstrated statistically significant decreased risks with early outpatient use of hydroxychloroquine.
7. Along with the meta-analysis, this is extremely robust evidence of benefit.

  [SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2SlHEeE medRxiv, online September 30, 2020.]

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA