Low dose (ICMR) hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis for COVID-19 fails - a prospective study

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.

Study to look for cardiovascular manifestations of COVID

Seven day continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic telemetric study with pocket electrocardiographic recording device for detecting hydroxychloroquin induced arrhythmias (preprint)

BACKGROUND & AIMS The use of hydroxycholoroquin for COVID 19 treatment and prophylaxis raised issues concerning its cardiac safety owing to possibility of QT prolongation and arrhythmias. 1 There was no study on long term electrocardiographic telemetry monitoring of patients taking hydroxychloroquin and we planned a continuous electrocardiographic holter telemetry of these patients for a period of seven days. Methods Healthcare workers taking hydroxycholoroquin as pre exposure prophylaxis, patients taking hydroxychloroquin were monitored by holter electrocardiographic telemetry with continuous beat to beat analysis for seven days with capacity to report any arrhythmic event or significant QT prolongation instantly to medical faculty. Results 25 participants with mean age 42.4 ± 14.1 years, 40% females. 20% patients needed to stop HCQ. Four patients developed QT prolongation > 500 ms and needed to stop HCQ, one patient had accelerated idioventricular rhythm and stopped treatment. one had short episodes of atrial fibrillation. No malignant arrhythmia or ventricular arrhythmia or torsades were noted. No episode of significant conduction disturbance and arrhythmic death noted. Baseline mean QTc was 423.96 ± 32.18 ms, mean QTc corrected at 24 hours 438.93 ± 37.95, mean QTc 451.879 ± 37.99 at 48 hours, change in baseline mean QTc to max QTc was 30.74 ± 21.75 ms at 48 hours. All those develop QTc prolongation > 500 ms were greater than 50 years of age. Conclusion Ambulatory telemetry ECG monitoring seems to detect early QT prolongation and stopping drug timely prevented malignant arrhythmias. HCQ seems to have less risk of QT prolongation in young healthy individuals.

Curcumin for COVID-19 Pre Exposure Prophylaxis

Melatonin Immune Boost COVID 19 Study

HCQ POCKET ECG Ambulatory Telemetry Study