PURPOSE:

• The ‘Randomised Evaluation of COVid-19 thERapY (RECOVERY) Trial’ is a national program in the UK to study potential therapies for SARS-CoV-2 infection
  • The RECOVERY was designed to assess multiple investigational treatments
  • Involves thousands of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and research personnel
• The chief investigators, Professors Horby and Landray, report the preliminary findings from the hydroxychloroquine RCT

METHODS:

• Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
• Participants
  • Patients hospitalized with COVID-19
• Randomization
  • Hydroxychloroquine vs usual care alone
• Primary Outcomes
  • Within 28 days after randomization: Death | Discharge | Need for ventilation | Need for renal replacement therapy
• Additional data collected
  • Age | Sex | Major co-morbidity | Pregnancy | COVID-19 onset date and severity

RESULTS:

• Randomized patients
  • Hydroxychloroquine: 1542
  • Usual care: 3132
• No significant difference in 28-day mortality (p=0.10)
  • Hydroxychloroquine: 25.7%
  • Usual care: 23.5% usual care
  • Hazard ratio: 1.11 (95% CI,  0.98-1.26)
• No evidence of benefit for the following
  • Hospital stay duration
  • Other outcomes aside from 28-day mortality

CONCLUSION:

• The use of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 did not demonstrate any benefit when compared to routine care
  • Full publication is forthcoming
• The authors state

We have concluded that there is no beneficial effect of hydroxychloroquine in patients hospitalised with COVID-19

We have therefore decided to stop enrolling participants to the hydroxychloroquine arm of the RECOVERY trial with immediate effect

We are now releasing the preliminary results as they have important implications for patient care and public health

Learn More – Primary Sources:

RECOVERY: Randomized Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy

Related ObG Topics:

NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines

RCT Results: Does Hydroxychloroquine Work for COVID-19 Postexposure Prophylaxis?

Prospective Trial Results (France): Hydroxychloroquine and Azithromycin Provide No Clinical Benefit for COVID-19