Patients receiving treatment with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for rheumatological conditions are not protected from SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to the results of a retrospective study of data from a US Veterans Health Administration database. During the study period (March–June 2020), the incidence of active infections did not differ between patients who received HCQ (31 of 10,703 (0.3%)) and those who did not (78 of 21,406 (0.4%)). The two groups also did not differ in rate of hospital admission, requirement of intensive care and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Authors: Chris A Gentry; Mary Beth Humphrey; Sharanjeet K Thind; Sage C Hendrickson; George Kurdgelashvili; Riley J Williams Journal: Lancet Rheumatol Date: 2020-09-21