Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine do not work against the coronavirus. That’s what scientists say in a new study published Friday in the medical journal “The Lancet.”
–
The drugs, used respectively against malaria and rheumatism, made headlines after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was taking hydroxychloroquine against the coronavirus. That statement sparked much criticism from doctors and scientists.
In The Lancet researchers say the agents have no effect on corona patients. In fact, the drugs pose a danger to human health. For example, hydroxychloroquine can cause side effects such as cardiac arrhythmias. The mortality risk is also greater when using the drug.
Higher mortality rate
The scientists examined approximately one hundred thousand corona patients in various hospitals. They divided them into five groups: patients treated with hydroxychloroquine, patients who received chloroquine and then two groups who received the drugs in combination with antibiotics. Patients who did not receive any of the drugs were also studied.
The latter group’s death rate was 9 percent, the article said. Of the groups given hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, 18 and 16.4 percent died, respectively. That percentage was even higher among corona patients who received the medicines in combination with antibiotics.
The researchers state that people who take hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are 45 percent more likely to die than if they don’t take the drugs.
40 million euros
Following Donald Trump’s controversial statements, a number of countries began to purchase hydroxychloroquine, including Britain. That country ordered forty million euros worth of the drug. Medical personnel will start there on Thursday with a trial to determine whether the anti-malaria drug can also be used in the fight against the coronavirus. Something that was thus contradicted in Friday The Lancet.
The Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board (CBG) announced earlier this week that there is no evidence that the drug works against the coronavirus. It was already clear that it entails risks.
– .
