Study: Hydroxychloroquine linked to heart disease, death
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A new study published Thursday shows a once-promising treatment for COVID-19 can lead to heart arrhythmia and even death.
Hydroxychloroquine has been touted as a possible treatment for COVID-19 since it was emergency authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at the end of March.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Mandeep Mehra, medical director of Brigham and Women’s Hospital Heart and Vascular Center, conducted an observational study tracking COVID-19 positive patients between Dec. 20, 2019, and April 24, 2020.
Over 95,000 patients were followed. Out of the 95,000, just under 15,000 patients received hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) or chloroquine (CQ) alone or in combination with an antibiotic. The remaining 85,000 patients did not receive any of the four treatments.
Results published in “The Lancet” showed 1 in 6 patients who received either HCQ or CQ died. In addition, 25% of patients who received HCQ or CQ in combination with the antibiotic died compared to the 1 in 11 who died and did not receive any of the treatments.
Mehra, who was interviewed by CNN, had this to say about the results:
“Our data has very convincingly shown that across the world in a real-world population that this drug combination, whichever way you slice it or dice it, does not show any evidence of benefit, and is in fact, immutably showing signs of grave harm.”
To view the study, click here.