Incidence of COVID-19 in patients under chronic treatment with hydroxychloroquine

Med Clin (Barc). 2021 Feb 26;156(4):166-171. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2020.10.006. Epub 2020 Nov 6.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the incidence of Covid-19 in patients who are chronic users of hydroxychloroquine.

Patients and methods: Cross-sectional retrospective observational multicenter study in health areas and districts from Castilla La-Mancha and Andalucia. Of the 4451 participants included in the first recruitment, 3817 with valid data were selected. The main variable of the study is the presence or absence of Covid-19 infection by clinical, serological or polymerase chain reaction diagnosis. Sociodemographic and clinical variables and treatment and concomitant comorbidities were recorded.

Results: 169 (4,45%) patients had Covid-19 infection, of which 12 (7.1%) died and 32 (18.9%) required hospital admission. Previous respiratory pathology was related to Covid-19 infection (P<.05). Maculopathy appears in 5.3% of patients and is significantly related to the dose of hydroxychloroquine consumed (P<.05).

Conclusion: There is no relationship between chronic use of hydroxychloroquine and the incidence of Covid-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Hidroxicloroquina; Hydroxychloroquine; Incidence; Incidencia; Tratamiento; Treatment.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • COVID-19 / complications
  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / therapeutic use*
  • Incidence
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Protective Factors
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Spain / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Hydroxychloroquine