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THE ANGELS – A surprising new study found that the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine was associated with a significant reduction in mortality among sick patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
A team from the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan studied 2,541 hospitalized patients with a COVID-related admission between March 10 and May 2.
“Our analysis shows that the use of hydroxychloroquine helped save lives,” said neurosurgeon Dr. Steven Kalkanis, CEO, Henry Ford Medical Group and Senior Vice President and Academic Director of the Henry Ford Health System.
“As doctors and scientists, we look for information in the data. And the data here is clear that the use of the drug was beneficial in treating sick and hospitalized patients, “said Kalkanis.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of hydroxychloroquine therapy alone and in combination with azithromycin in patients with the virus. The study found that 13% of those treated with hydroxychloroquine alone died compared to 26.4% not treated with the drug.
“Hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial and immunomodulatory agent and a safer analog of chloroquine, has shown antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2,” according to the study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.
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All of the patients observed in the study were at least 18 years old and most of the patients received the medication shortly after admission. Ninety-one percent of these patients received the medication within 48 hours of hospital admission.
The study describes how patients received two 400 mg doses of hydroxychloroquine on the first day, followed by two 200 mg doses on days 2-5. Patients received a 500 mg dose of azithromycin on the first day of the study, followed by another 250 mg daily dose for the next four days. The combination of the two drugs was reserved for patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms and minimal cardiac risk factors.
“Considered in the context of current studies on the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19, our results suggest that the drug may have an important role in reducing COVID-19 mortality,” Dr. Marcus Zervos, Division Chief of Infectious Diseases for Henry Ford Health System Said.
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This study follows other research and reports that have cast doubt on the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine benefit when used to treat patients with COVID-19.
In May, President Donald Trump defended himself against criticism from medical experts after announcing that he was using hydroxychlorquine to prevent the symptoms of COVID-19, since taking and supporting unproven drug treatment could lead to misuse by of Americans, which could lead to fatal effects
Last month, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rescinded its authorization for the emergency use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to treat patients with COVID-19. “Specifically, the FDA has determined that CQ and HCQ are unlikely to be effective in treating COVID-19 for authorized uses in the US,” the FDA wrote in a June 15 update.
