Chinese Study: Efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in patients with COVID-19: results of a randomized clinical trial

Medrixv ^ | 04/01/2020 | Zhaowei Chen, View ORCID ProfileJijia Hu, Zongwei Zhang, Shan Jiang, Shoumeng Han, Dandan Yan, Ruho

[SeekAndFind]

This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review. It reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice.

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Abstract

Aims: Studies have indicated that chloroquine (CQ) shows antagonism against COVID-19 in vitro. However, evidence regarding its effects in patients is limited. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.

Main methods: From February 4 to February 28, 2020, 62 patients suffering from COVID-19 were diagnosed and admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University.

All participants were randomized in a parallel-group trial, 31 patients were assigned to receive an additional 5-day HCQ (400 mg/d) treatment, Time to clinical recovery (TTCR), clinical characteristics, and radiological results were assessed at baseline and 5 days after treatment to evaluate the effect of HCQ.

Key findings:

* For the 62 COVID-19 patients, 46.8% (29 of 62) were male and 53.2% (33 of 62) were female, the mean age was 44.7 (15.3) years. No difference in the age and sex distribution between the control group and the HCQ group. But for TTCR, the body temperature recovery time and the cough remission time were significantly shortened in the HCQ treatment group. Besides, a larger proportion of patients with improved pneumonia in the HCQ treatment group (80.6%, 25 of 32) compared with the control group (54.8%, 17 of 32).

Notably, all 4 patients progressed to severe illness that occurred in the control group. However, there were 2 patients with mild adverse reactions in the HCQ treatment group.

Significance: Among patients with COVID-19, the use of HCQ could significantly shorten TTCR and promote the absorption of pneumonia.

Competing Interest Statement: The authors have declared no competing interest.

Clinical Trial: ChiCTR2000029559

Funding Statement

This study was supported by the Epidemiological Study of COVID-19 Pneumonia to Science and Technology Department of Hubei Province (2020FCA005).

Author Declarations All relevant ethical guidelines have been followed; any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained and details of the IRB/oversight body are included in the manuscript.

Yes

All necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived.

Yes

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

Yes

I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable.

Yes

[StAnDeliver]

I mean, this is the third Chinese hydrochloroquine-only study this month. One suspects they don't have enough azithromycin in-country to make it part of the more successful protocol ie every mandarin will want both if Raoult's PQL+Zpack study were performed there.

But pleasing results; aligns with Prof. Raoult's first study. Not reposting that graphic again, the right people have seen it enough...

[bigbob]

Not 100%, no drug is. But again, study shows minimal adverse effect and significant reduction in recovery time. No study has said it makes the disease worse and the side-effects can be minimized by careful screening.

[Ceebass]

Another small study (62 patients) but the first I’ve seen with a control group. The HCQ results significantly superior to placebo.

I predict the media and all the “not proven” bureaucrats are going to look stupid when the US trial results start coming out.

[an amused spectator]

April Fool!

We didn't use any Z-Paks or zinc supplement, so we could fool the Round-Eyes yet again.

The antiTrump American Media will do the work of their puppetmaster Xi!

[captain_dave]

A Chinese study. Of questionable merit. We already know it works. Doctors in France and New York have successfully used it.

[taxcontrol]

It is “Chinese information” - on par with unicorn farts, big foot sightings and climate change.