Outcomes associated with Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A single-center experience

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin are advocated as potential treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) despite the lack of supportive clinical evidence. In this study, outcomes associated with Hydroxychloroquine and/or Ivermectin were determined in a series of patients with confirmed COVID-19 from a single institution in Brazil. METHODS: Consecutive patients admitted between March and July 2020 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into four treatment categories: no treatment (Group 0), Ivermectin only (Group I), Hydroxychloroquine only (Group II), and Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin (Group III). Intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and death were compared between the Groups. RESULTS: A total of 230 patients were included, with the following treatment distribution: 35.2% (0), 9.1% (I), 48.3% (II), and 7.4% (III). Groups I, II, and III had the higher rates of Intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, or death (0: 23.5% versus I: 38.1% versus II: 37.8% versus III: 70.6%, p=0.002), and the greatest mortality was found in Group III (0 versus III: 13.6% versus 35.3%, p=0.03). In the multivariate analysis, Hydroxychloroquine remained significantly associated with death (OR 3.3, 95%CI 1.1-9.6, p=0.03). CONCLUSION: In a series of consecutive hospitalized patients with COVID-19, Ivermectin was not associated with improved outcomes and Hydroxychloroquine may have resulted in a harmful effect.