Low-dose hydroxychloroquine therapy and mortality in hospitalised patients with COVID-19: a nationwide observational study of 8075 participants

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been largely used and investigated as therapy for COVID-19 across various

settings at a total dose usually ranging from 2400 mg to 9600 mg. In Belgium, off-label use of

low-dose HCQ (total 2400 mg over 5 days) was recommended for hospitalised patients with COVID-19.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of in-hospital mortality in the Belgian national COVID-19 hospital

surveillance data. Patients treated either with HCQ monotherapy and supportive care (HCQ group) were

compared with patients treated with supportive care only (no-HCQ group) using a competing risks proportional

hazards regression with discharge alive as competing risk, adjusted for demographic and clinical

features with robust standard errors. Of 8075 patients with complete discharge data on 24 May 2020

and diagnosed before 1 May 2020, 4542 received HCQ in monotherapy and 3533 were in the no-HCQ

group. Death was reported in 804/4542 (17.7%) and 957/3533 (27.1%), respectively. In the multivariable

analysis, mortality was lower in the HCQ group compared with the no-HCQ group [adjusted hazard ratio

(aHR) = 0.684, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.617–0.758]. Compared with the no-HCQ group, mortality

in the HCQ group was reduced both in patients diagnosed ≤5 days ( n = 3975) and > 5 days ( n = 3487)

after symptom onset [aHR = 0.701 (95% CI 0.617–0.796) and aHR = 0.647 (95% CI 0.525–0.797), respectively].

Compared with supportive care only, low-dose HCQ monotherapy was independently associated

with lower mortality in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 diagnosed and treated early or later after

symptom onset.