The results of a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study of 821 patients that were in contact with COVID-19 was published in NEJM a couple days ago. It was headed up by Dr. Todd Lee at McGill University in Montreal and also collaborating with University of Minnesota, University of Alberta and Univ of Manitoba. It showed no difference between Placebo and Hydroxychloroquine in development of COVID-19.
It also found the subjects had a larger incidence of nausea and intestinal discomfort, but no serious side effects including no heart arrhythmia. The patient group was by and large relatively young and healthy, with an average age of 40.
This is basically level 1 evidence that Hydroxychloroquine has no benefit in preventing COVID-19 and no serious side effects in relatively young and healthy population. 800 subjects is a decent number, but a larger study could be conducted, with a larger group of subjects with a more varying range of ages and potential comorbidities.
At the McGill University Health Centre, a trial looking at early treatment in the community is underway. "I would have loved to have a positive study, but in circumstances like this you need the negative studies too so you can redirect attention," Lee said.
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/hydroxyc...inds-1.4967662