Hydroxychloroquine pre-exposure prophylaxis provides no protection against COVID-19 among health care workers: a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital in North India
Juneja et al.,
Hydroxychloroquine pre-exposure prophylaxis provides no protection against COVID-19 among health care workers:..,
Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2021-0221
Retrospective 2,200 healthcare workers in India, 996 taking HCQ prophylaxis, showing no significant differences. There were large differences in the occupation of participants and therefore exposure, and the authors make no adjustments.
This study is excluded in the after exclusion results of meta
analysis:
excessive unadjusted differences between groups.
risk of severe case, 141.8% higher, RR 2.42, p = 0.59, treatment 2 of 996 (0.2%), control 1 of 1,204 (0.1%).
|
risk of case, 6.4% higher, RR 1.06, p = 0.67, treatment 103 of 996 (10.3%), control 117 of 1,204 (9.7%).
|
Effect extraction follows pre-specified rules prioritizing more serious outcomes. Submit updates
|
Juneja et al., 7 Jan 2022, retrospective, India, peer-reviewed, 9 authors, study period 2 April, 2020 - 3 September, 2020.
Abstract: J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2022; aop
Shivani Juneja, Proteesh Rana*, Parvinder Chawala, Rekha Katoch, Kulvir Singh,
Shobha Rana, Tamanna Mittal, Bhavnish Kaur and Simaranjot Kaur
Hydroxychloroquine pre-exposure prophylaxis
provides no protection against COVID-19 among
health care workers: a cross-sectional study in a
tertiary care hospital in North India
https://doi.org/10.1515/jbcpp-2021-0221
Received August 15, 2021; accepted December 20, 2021;
published online January 7, 2022
Abstract
Objectives: The use of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) prophylaxis has been recommended by the National task force
constituted by the Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR) for the prevention of corona virus disease 2019
(COVID-19) among healthcare workers (HCWs). However,
this recommendation was based essentially on the preclinical data and limited clinical experience. The aim of
this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HCQ as
a pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 infection among
Indian HCWs.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among
HCWs of a tertiary care hospital in north India. The HCQ
prophylaxis was initiated among 996 HCWs and they were
followed up to 8 weeks for conversion to COVID-19 positive
status and any adverse drug reaction (ADR).
Results: About 10.3% of the study participants were tested
positive for COVID-19 which was comparable to the positivity rate among HCWs not taking HCQ prophylaxis
(9.7%).
Conclusions: HCQ was well tolerated at a weekly dose of
400 mg for 8 weeks but provided no additional benefit in
prevention of COVID-19 among HCWs.
Keywords: COVID-19; Hydroxycholoroquine; prophylaxis.
*Corresponding author: Proteesh Rana, Assistant Professor,
Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medical Sciences,
Delhi, India, E-mail: proteesh@gmail.com
Shivani Juneja, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Fortis Hospital
Mohali, Mohali, India
Parvinder Chawala, Rekha Katoch, Kulvir Singh, Shobha Rana,
Tamanna Mittal, Bhavnish Kaur and Simaranjot Kaur, Fortis Hospital
Mohali, Mohali, Punjab, India
Please send us corrections, updates, or comments. Vaccines and
treatments are complementary. All practical, effective, and safe means should
be used based on risk/benefit analysis. No treatment, vaccine, or intervention
is 100% available and effective for all current and future variants. We do not
provide medical advice. Before taking any medication, consult a qualified
physician who can provide personalized advice and details of risks and
benefits based on your medical history and situation.
FLCCC and
WCH
provide treatment protocols.
Submit