ABSTRACT
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the world began a frantic search for possible prophylactic options. We conducted a study to assess the role of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 prophylaxis in health-care workers. The study was a prospective cohort with four arms (high, medium, low dose, and control) of HCQ prophylaxis. Participants were grouped as per their opting for any one arm on a voluntary basis as per institute policy. The outcomes studied were COVID-19 positivity by RT-PCR and its severity assessed by WHO COVID-19 severity scale. Total 486 participants were enrolled, of which 29 (6%) opted for low dose, 2 (<1%) medium dose, and none for high dose HCQ while 455 (93.6%) were in the control arm. Of the 164 participants who underwent RT-PCR, 96 (58.2%) tested positive. Out of these 96 positive cases, 79 [82.3%] were ambulatory and were managed conservatively at home. Only 17.7% participants, all from the control group, required hospitalization with the mild-moderate disease. None of the participants had severe disease, COVID-related complications, ICU stay, or death. The difference in the outcome was statistically insignificant (p value >0.05). This single-centre study demonstrated that HCQ prophylaxis in healthcare workers does not cause a significant reduction in COVID-19 as well as mitigating its severity in those infected. At present, most of the trials have not shown any benefit. Though COVID-19 vaccines have reduced the need for prophylaxis, the search for a safe and reasonable chemoprophylaxis should continue until a large population of individuals gets vaccinated, especially in underdeveloped countries.