Abstract
Introduction
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant mortality worldwide. The disease attacks the lung tissue and may lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome. An in vitro study showed that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has a prophylactic effect against COVID-19 due to its anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the prophylactic effect of HCQ on individuals in close contact with patients with COVID-19.
Method
In this quasi-trial study, we prescribed HCQ for 7 days to all people who had close contact with a patient with COVID-19. All contacts underwent a nasal swab in two steps, and those positive for COVID-19 were excluded from the study. After 14 days of follow-up, the clinical and laboratory manifestations of COVID-19 were evaluated.
Results
A total of 113 participants completed the study. The HCQ group comprised 51 (45.13%) contacts, and 62 (54.86%) contacts were allocated to the control group. According to the results of clinical examination and real-time polymerase chain reaction test, 8 (12.90%) contacts in the control group were reported to have contracted COVID-19. In the HCQ group, 7 (13.72%) contacts were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19. There was no relationship between HCQ use and age, sex, underlying disorders, and laboratory data (all p > 0.05). In terms of HCQ side effects, five participants experienced gastrointestinal and cutaneous side effects that subsided on discontinuation of HCQ.
Conclusion
The current study showed that HCQ had no prophylactic effect with regard to COVID-19 prevention.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus, Hydroxychloroquine, close contact, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, Anti-inflammatory effects, pandemic, Mortality, Sex, Prophylactic, Laboratory, age, HCQ, Follow-up, nasal swab, Side effects, disease, acute respiratory distress, Contact, manifestation, Side effect, control group, individual, laboratory data, syndrome, participant, lung tissue, in vitro study, positive, clinical examination, attack, patient with COVID-19, FIVE, polymerase chain, Result, evaluate, caused, reported, evaluated, had no, patients with COVID-19, underlying disorders, were excluded, 【제목키워드】 Prophylactic, patients with COVID-19,