A call to caution when hydroxychloroquine is given to elderly patients with COVID-19

Int J Infect Dis. 2021 May:106:265-268. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.04.009. Epub 2021 Apr 10.

Abstract

Introduction: Use of hydroxychloroquine in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was widespread and uncontrolled until recently. Patients vulnerable to severe COVID-19 are at risk of hydroxychloroquine interactions with co-morbidities and co-medications contributing to detrimental, including fatal, adverse treatment effects.

Methods: A retrospective survey was undertaken of health conditions and co-medications of patients with COVID-19 who were pre-screened for enrolment in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled hydroxychloroquine multi-centre trial.

Results: The survey involved 305 patients [median age 71 (interquartile range 59-81) years]. The majority of patients (n = 279, 92%) considered for inclusion in the clinical trial were not eligible, mainly due to safety concerns caused by health conditions or co-medications. The most common were QT-prolonging drugs (n = 188, 62%) and haematologic/haemato-oncologic diseases (n = 39, 13%) which prohibited the administration of hydroxychloroquine. In addition, 165 (54%) patients had health conditions and 167 (55%) patients were on co-medications that did not prohibit the use of hydroxychloroquine but had a risk of adverse interactions with hydroxychloroquine. The most common were diabetes (n = 86, 28%), renal insufficiency (n = 69, 23%) and heart failure (n = 58, 19%).

Conclusion: The majority of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 had health conditions or took co-medications precluding safe treatment with hydroxychloroquine. Therefore, hydroxychloroquine should be administered with extreme caution in elderly patients with COVID-19, and only in clinical trials.

Keywords: Adverse effects; COVID-19; Contraindications; Hydroxychloroquine; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Comorbidity
  • Contraindications, Drug
  • Drug Interactions
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Hydroxychloroquine / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2*

Substances

  • Hydroxychloroquine