Randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial of hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin for virologic cure of non-severe Covid-19
Ali S. Omrani, Sameer A. Pathan, Sarah A. Thomas, Tim R.E. Harris, Peter Coyle, Caroline E. Thomas, Isma Qureshi, Zain A. Bhutta, Naema Al Mawlawi, Reham A. Al Kahlout, Ashraf Elmalik, Aftab Azad, Joanne Daghfal, Mulham Mustafa, Andrew Jeremijenko, Hussam Al Soub, Mohammed Abu Khattab, Muna Al Maslamani, Stephen H. Thomas
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hydroxychloroquine (HC) ± azithromycin (AZ) is widely used for Covid-19. The Qatar Prospective RCT of Expediting Coronavirus Tapering (Q-PROTECT) aimed to assess virologic cure rates of HC±AZ in cases of low-acuity Covid-19. METHODS: testing. (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04349592, trial status closed to new participants.). FINDINGS: = 0·072) between study group and viral cure: HC+AZ 30/149 (20·1%,), HC 42/146 (28·8%), placebo 45/143 (31·5%). There were no serious adverse events. INTERPRETATION: HC±AZ does not facilitate virologic cure in patients with mild or asymptomatic Covid-19. FUNDING: The study was supported by internal institutional funds of the Hamad Medical Corporation (government health service of the State of Qatar).