Fernando Luiz Barros Edington1, Sandra Rocha Gadellha2, Mittermayer Barreto Santiago3. 1. Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil; Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. Electronic address: flbedington@uesc.br. 2. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. 3. Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of adverse events (AE) in chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine users. METHODS: We systematically reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), using MEDLINE (2010-2020) and EMBASE (2010-2020) databases, reporting AE in chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine users during treatment for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, malaria and COVID-19. The protocol for this systematic review is registered at the PROSPERO database (CRD42020197938). The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-Bias tool and relevant data were extracted though a customized data collection form, independently, by two authors. The IRR of AE was estimated using a random-effect model meta-analysis and heterogeneity was evaluated by T2 and I2. Subgroup analysis was performed, and publication bias was assessed by funnel-plot. RESULTS: Forty-six RCTs met our eligibility criteria and were included in our analysis (23132 patients). There was not a single death attributed to chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine use in the included RCTs. The IRR of general AE during antimalarial use was 1.15 [CI 95% 1.01-1.31]. COVID-19 patients treated with either antimalarial presented an 83% and 165% higher risk of developing general and gastrointestinal AE, respectively, in comparison with controls. The use of antimalarial increased the risk of developing dermatological AE by 92% in malarial studies and reduced by 65% in lupus studies. We did not find a significatively higher risk of cardiovascular nor ophthalmological AE in antimalarial users. CONCLUSIONS: Our data reinforces that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have a good safety profile though caution is advised when using higher than usual doses in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of adverse events (AE) in chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine users. METHODS: We systematically reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), using MEDLINE (2010-2020) and EMBASE (2010-2020) databases, reporting AE in chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine users during treatment for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, malaria and COVID-19. The protocol for this systematic review is registered at the PROSPERO database (CRD42020197938). The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-Bias tool and relevant data were extracted though a customized data collection form, independently, by two authors. The IRR of AE was estimated using a random-effect model meta-analysis and heterogeneity was evaluated by T2 and I2. Subgroup analysis was performed, and publication bias was assessed by funnel-plot. RESULTS: Forty-six RCTs met our eligibility criteria and were included in our analysis (23132 patients). There was not a single death attributed to chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine use in the included RCTs. The IRR of general AE during antimalarial use was 1.15 [CI 95% 1.01-1.31]. COVID-19patients treated with either antimalarial presented an 83% and 165% higher risk of developing general and gastrointestinal AE, respectively, in comparison with controls. The use of antimalarial increased the risk of developing dermatological AE by 92% in malarial studies and reduced by 65% in lupus studies. We did not find a significatively higher risk of cardiovascular nor ophthalmological AE in antimalarial users. CONCLUSIONS: Our data reinforces that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have a good safety profile though caution is advised when using higher than usual doses in hospitalized COVID-19patients.
Authors: Boukje C Eveleens Maarse; Claus Graff; Jørgen K Kanters; Michiel J van Esdonk; Michiel J B Kemme; Aliede E In 't Veld; Manon A A Jansen; Matthijs Moerland; Pim Gal Journal: Br J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2021-08-24 Impact factor: 3.716