By Mica Soellner
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/mica-soellner
Newly released research found that coronavirus patients who took the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine were more likely to survive while being treated in a hospital.
The study, conducted by the Henry Ford Health System in southeast Michigan, measured the mortality rates and treatments of 2,541 patients representing a mix of races, genders, and ages. The research team found that 26% of patients who were not given hydroxychloroquine died compared to 13% of those who were taking the drug. The median age of those studied was 64.
"In this multi-hospital assessment, when controlling for COVID-19 risk factors, treatment with hydroxychloroquine alone and in combination with azithromycin was associated with reduction in COVID-19 associated mortality," the study's authors wrote. The peer-reviewed study was published this week in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.
The study adds texture to the findings of the Department of Veterans Affairs in a study that showed an increased mortality rate among veterans who were taking the anti-malarial drug. The agency noted that the veterans were at a higher risk because of underlying conditions.
Public officials and media pundits have been highly critical of the drug's use during the pandemic because there has been no proven science behind its ability to combat or ward off the coronavirus. The Food and Drug Administration even issued a warning about using the drug to treat the coronavirus outside of a hospital setting or clinical trial, saying it could cause heart rhythm problems.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/study-finds-covid-19-patients-who-took-hydroxychloroquine-were-less-likely-to-die