Incidence of COVID-19 in patients under chronic treatment with hydroxychloroquine

Objective: To analyze the incidence of Covid-19 in patients who are chronic users of hydroxychloroquine. Patients and methods: Cross-sectional retrospective observational multicenter study in health areas and districts from Castilla La-Mancha and Andalucia. Of the 4451 participants included in the first recruitment, 3817 with valid data were selected. The main variable of the study is the presence or absence of Covid-19 infection by clinical, serological or polymerase chain reaction diagnosis. Sociodemographic and clinical variables and treatment and concomitant comorbidities were recorded. Results: 169 (4,45%) patients had Covid-19 infection, of which 12 (7.1%) died and 32 (18.9%) required hospital admission. Previous respiratory pathology was related to Covid-19 infection (P < .05). Maculo-pathy appears in 5.3% of patients and is significantly related to the dose of hydroxychloroquine consumed (P < .05). Conclusion: There is no relationship between chronic use of hydroxychloroquine and the incidence of Covid-19. (C) 2020 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the incidence of Covid-19 in chronic users of hydroxychloroquine, and found no relationship between chronic use of hydroxychloroquine and the incidence of Covid-19. Previous respiratory pathology was related to Covid-19 infection, while the appearance of maculopathy was significantly related to the dose of hydroxychloroquine consumed.