Study: No Increased Heart Risks for CV-19 Patients on CHQ/HCQ & Z-Pak
Important new study is published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (AHA) on the largest reported cohort of COVID-19 patients to date treated with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine (with or without) azithromycin.
This is welcome study signals a turning point in the way doctors can deal with the coronavirus pandemic. It is a game-changer because it emphatically reveals no instances of TdP or arrhythmogenic death and also shows no adverse effects.
As such, it assuredly removes this one area of doubt expressed by medical experts in declining to use the ‘Trump cure’ – a cheap and effective re-purposed long-standing treatment (for malaria and lupus).
POTUS was widely ridiculed in the mainstream media for recommending the drug combination in an early March press conference and thereafter on Twitter:
However, this new study means there is no longer reason to deny the treatment to anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 under the pretense it may cause damage to their heart.
The much-awaited report was published on April 29, 2020 under the title, ‘The Effect of Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin on the Corrected QT Interval in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection‘ appears online at www.ahajournals.org[1]
The new study should now alleviate concerns expressed by some health experts that:
“Hydroxychloroquine causes prolonged QT intervals and cardiac arrhythmias, so this needs to be considered in patients being treated with this drug for COVID-19.” [2]
Abstract
Background – The novel SARs-CoV-2 coronavirus is responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic. Small studies have shown a potential benefit of chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine ± azithromycin for the treatment of COVID-19. Use of these medications alone, or in combination, can lead to a prolongation of the QT interval, possibly increasing the risk of Torsade de pointes (TdP) and sudden cardiac death.
Methods – Hospitalized patients treated with chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine ± azithromycin from March 1st through the 23rd at three hospitals within the Northwell Health system were included in this prospective, observational study. Serial assessments of the QT interval were performed. The primary outcome was QT prolongation resulting in TdP. Secondary outcomes included QT prolongation, the need to prematurely discontinue any of the medications due to QT prolongation and arrhythmogenic death.
Results – Two hundred one patients were treated for COVID-19 with chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine. Ten patients (5.0{154653b9ea5f83bbbf00f55de12e21cba2da5b4b158a426ee0e27ae0c1b44117}) received chloroquine, 191 (95.0{154653b9ea5f83bbbf00f55de12e21cba2da5b4b158a426ee0e27ae0c1b44117}) received hydroxychloroquine and 119 (59.2{154653b9ea5f83bbbf00f55de12e21cba2da5b4b158a426ee0e27ae0c1b44117}) also received azithromycin. The primary outcome of TdP was not observed in the entire population. Baseline QTc intervals did not differ between patients treated with chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (monotherapy group) vs. those treated with combination group (chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin) (440.6 ± 24.9 ms vs. 439.9 ± 24.7 ms, p =0.834). The maximum QTc during treatment was significantly longer in the combination group vs the monotherapy group (470.4 ± 45.0 ms vs. 453.3 ± 37.0 ms, p = 0.004). Seven patients (3.5{154653b9ea5f83bbbf00f55de12e21cba2da5b4b158a426ee0e27ae0c1b44117}) required discontinuation of these medications due to QTc prolongation. No arrhythmogenic deaths were reported.
Conclusions – In the largest reported cohort of COVID-19 patients to date treated with chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine {plus minus} azithromycin, no instances of TdP or arrhythmogenic death were reported. Although use of these medications resulted in QT prolongation, clinicians seldomly needed to discontinue therapy. Further study of the need for QT interval monitoring is needed before final recommendations can be made.
Footnotes
[1] https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCEP.120.008662#.XrG-i8LBjDA.twitter Moussa Saleh, James Gabriels et al.,’The Effect of Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin on the Corrected QT Interval in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection’
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richard
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Who would have though that out of 195 countries with Corona the UK would be responsible for 11% of the deaths.
11, mainly , 1st world countries have been responsible for 92% of deaths.
So the Uk has had more deaths than 184 countries put together.
I call absolute bullsh** on the figures.
Data from Worldometer.
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