Review Article

The Outcome of Hydroxychloroquine in Patients Treated for COVID-19: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 1

Characteristics of the studies included in the meta-analysis

AuthorStudy designPopulationIntervention group and protocolControlOutcome

Gautret et al., 2020 [8]Open-label nonrandomized clinical trialAge > 12HCQ: 20
Protocol: 200 mg tid/10 days
Non-HCQ: 16Viral cure on day 6 (14/20 vs. 2/16): HCQ group 8/14 and HCQ + AZ 6/6. Mortality: 1/14 vs. none; ICU admission: 3/14 vs. none. Adverse effects: 1/14 (nausea) vs. none
Barbosa Espe et al., 2020 [32]Age > 18HCQ: 412
Protocol: 800 mg/on day 1, 400 mg/6 days and AZ 500 mg/day/5 days
Non-HCQ: 224Need for hospitalization: HCQ + AZ, 8/412 vs. 12/224
Tang et al., 2020 [20]Age ≥ 18HCQ group: 75
Protocol: 1.2 gd LD/d/3 days, and then, 800 mg/d for 2-3 weeks
Non-HCQ: 75Viral cure on day 28: 53/75 vs. 56/75; adverse effect: 21/75 vs. 7/80
Jun et al., 2020 [21]Age ≥ 18HCQ: 15
Protocol: HCQ 400 mg qod 5/days
Non-HCQ: 15Viral cure after day 7: 13 vs. 14; adverse effects: 4/15 vs. 3/15
Chen et al., 2020 [22]Age ≥ 18Non-HCQ: 15
Protocol: 400 mg/d/5 days
Non-HCQ group: 31Clinical deterioration: 2 vs. 9; progression to severe illness: 0 vs. 4
Geleris et al., 2020 [4]Prospective observational studyAdultsHCQ: 811 protocol: 600 mg bid day 1 and then 400 mg daily for a median of 5 days)Non-HCQ: 562Mortality: HCQ, 157/811; non-HCQ, 75/565
Intubated: 154/811; non-HCQ, 26/565
Rosenberg et al., 2020 [14]Retrospective cohortAll patientsHCQ + AZ: 735
HCQ: 271
Protocol: not clear!
Non-HCQ + AZ: 221Mortality: HCQ + AZ: 189/735; HCQ: 54/271; none: 28/221
ICU admission: HCQ: 52, non-HCQ: 27; HCQ + AZ: 226/735
QTc prolongation: HCQ + AZ: 81; HCQ: 39; none: 15
Arrhythmia: HCQ + AZ: 150; HCQ:44; and none: 23
Cardiac arrest: HCQ + AZ:114; HCQ:37; none:13
Mercuro et al., 2020 [33]Retrospective cohortHCQ + AZ: 53Non-HCQ alone: 37QTc prolongation: HCQ + AZ: 11/53 and HCQ: 7/37
Saleh et al., 2020 [26]Prospective studyHCQ + AZ: 119Non-HCQ: 191QTc prolongation: HCQ + AZ: 11/119 and HCQ: 7/191
Mahévas et al., 2020 [13]Comparative observational studyAge ≥ 18 yearsHCQ: 84
Protocol: 600 mg within 48 hours of admission
Non-HCQ: 89Mortality: 9/84 vs. 8/89. ICU admission: 8/84 vs. 14/89
Yu et al., 2020 [30]Retrospective observationalNot specifiedHCQ: 48
Protocol:200 mg bid/7–10 days
Non-HCQ: 520Mortality: 9/48 vs. 238/520
Magagnoli et al., 2020 [31]Retrospective observationalNot specifiedHCQ: 97
HCQ + AZ: 113
Non-HCQ: 158Mortality: HCQ: 27; HCQ + AZ: 25; no HCQ: 18. ICU admission/need for ventilation: HCQ: 12/90; HCQ + AZ: 7/101; no HCQ: 25/177