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. 2020 Sep;15(3):350-358.
doi: 10.1007/s11481-020-09930-x. Epub 2020 Sep 8.

Does Adding of Hydroxychloroquine to the Standard Care Provide any Benefit in Reducing the Mortality among COVID-19 Patients?: a Systematic Review

Tejas K Patel  1 , Manish Barvaliya  2 , Bhavesh D Kevadiya  3 , Parvati B Patel  4 , Hira Lal Bhalla  5
Affiliations

Does Adding of Hydroxychloroquine to the Standard Care Provide any Benefit in Reducing the Mortality among COVID-19 Patients?: a Systematic Review

Tejas K Patel et al. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Hydroxychloroquine has been promoted for its use in treatment of COVID-19 patients based on in-vitro evidences. We searched the databases to include randomized and observational studies evaluating the effect of Hydroxychloroquine on mortality in COVID-19 patients. The outcome was summarized as odds ratios (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).We used the inverse-variance method with a random effect model and assessed the heterogeneity using I2 test. We used ROBINS-I tool to assess methodological quality of the included studies. We performed the meta-analysis using 'Review manager software version 5.3'. We identified 6 observationalstudies satisfying the selection criteria. In all studies, Hydroxychloroquine was given as add on to the standard care and effect was compared with the standard care alone. A pooled analysis observed 251 deaths in 1331 participants of the Hydroxychloroquine arm and 363 deaths in 1577 participants of the control arm. There was no difference in odds of mortality events amongst Hydroxychloroquine and supportive care arm [1.25 (95% CI: 0.65, 2.38); I2 = 80%]. A similar trend was observed with moderate risk of bias studies [0.95 (95% CI: 0.44, 2.06); I2 = 85%]. The odds of mortality were significantly higher in patients treated with Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin than supportive care alone [2.34 (95% CI: 1.63, 3.34); I2 = 0%]. A pooled analysis of recently published studies suggests no additional benefit for reducing mortality in COVID-19 patients when Hydroxychloroquine is given as add-on to the standard care. Graphical Abstract.

Keywords: Azithromycin; COVID-19; Hydroxychloroquine; Meta-analysis; Mortality; Standard care.

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Conflict of interest statement

None to declare.

Figures

None
Graphical Abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study selection – PRISMA flow diagram
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Meta-analytic summary of mortality data(Hydroxychloroquine versus supportive care) through random effect model
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The funnel plot (Hydroxychloroquine versus supportive care)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Meta-analytic summary of mortality data (Hydroxychloroquine+Azithromycin versus supportive care) through fixed effect model
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Meta-analytic summary of mortality data(Hydroxychloroquine+Azithromycin versus Hydroxychloroquine) through random effect model
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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