HCQ holds promise of Covid prevention, finds PGI study

Naina Mishra
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 11

A group of doctors from the PGI has found a significant risk reduction in the incidence of Covid-19 among participants who received post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).

Post-exposure prophylaxis, also known as post-exposure prevention, is any preventive medical treatment started after exposure to a pathogen in order to prevent the infection from occurring.

WHO findings

HCQ has been the point of discussion ever since the start of the pandemic. The interim analysis of the “Solidarity” clinical trial done by the WHO has recommended not to use HCQ for Covid-19 therapy as it doesn’t have any mortality benefit.

The study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of post-exposure prophylaxis with HCQ for the prevention of Covid-19 in asymptomatic non-healthcare workers (non-HCWs) who were at the risk of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The trial found that post-exposure prophylaxis with HCQ has the potential of prevention of Covid-19 in asymptomatic individuals at risk of the SARS-CoV-2 infection as there was a significant risk reduction in the incidence of Covid-19 in participants who received HCQ.

Don’t disregard potential of HCQ: Study

The PGI study says, “With this open-level clinical trial, we absolutely don’t claim or recommend PEP with HCQ for the prevention of Covid-19 in asymptomatic direct contacts. Nevertheless based upon one or two studies, we should not completely disregard or reject the potential of HCQ as PEP in asymptomatic high risk contacts for the prevention of Covid-19. Based upon the safety profile of HCQ and as a definitive therapy is still awaited, even a some percentage of risk reduction for Covid-19 will have a huge impact against this global pandemic of the worst nature.”

“Till a definitive therapy is available, continuing PEP with HCQ may be considered suitable for at-risk individuals for the prevention of Covid-19, as endorsed by many national/international health authorities,” the study concluded.

About the study

At-risk asymptomatic individuals, who had undertaken international travel in the past two weeks or had direct contact with confirmed Covid-19 cases, were given the option of taking HCQ for the prevention of the SARS-CoV2 infection. Participants who did not give consent for HCQ prophylaxis were directly included in the control groups. The high risk direct contacts were family members, relatives, friends or colleagues who were living with or spent hours/days with the Covid-19 patients without taking any personal protective precautions.

The study was conducted by Dr Deba Prasad Dhibar, Dr Navneet Arora, Dr Arpit Kakkar, Dr Neeraj Singla, Dr Ritin Mohindra, Dr Vikas Suri, Dr Ashish Bhalla and Dr Navneet Sharma from the Department of Internal Medicine, Dr Mini Singh from the Department of Virology, Dr Ajay Prakash and Dr Bikash Medhi from the Department of Pharmacology and Dr Lakshmi PVM from the Community Medicine and School of Public Health.

Results

A total of 50 of the 317 participants (15.8 per cent) had new onset Covid-19. The incidence of Covid-19 was significantly lower in those who took HCQ (10.6 per cent) as compared to the control group (19.4 per cent).

Total absolute risk reduction in the incidence of Covid-19 was 8.8 per cent (points).

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.