Hydroxychloroquine Use in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19: Impact on Progression to Severe or Critical Disease

Inclusion Criteria:

• Admitted to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
• Age 18 years or older
• Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19

• At least 1 of the following:

  1. Requiring oxygen supplementation at ≤ 4 liters via nasal cannula or increase from baseline
  2. Bilateral infiltrates on CXR or CT of chest
  3. Age 65 or older
  4. Diabetes
  5. Hypertension
  6. BMI > 35
  7. Chronic lung disease
  8. Cardiovascular disease
  9. Chronic kidney disease
  10. Cancer (hematologic malignancies, lung cancer, and metastatic disease)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to provide informed consent
• Unable to take oral medication

• Severe/critical COVID-19 disease at presentation

  1. Intensive care or intermediate care required at admission or within 48 hours
  2. Requiring oxygen supplementation via high flow nasal cannula, bipap, or non-rebreather mask at admission or within 48 hours
• Likelihood of survival <48 hours in the opinion of the primary physician or transitioned to comfort measures within 48 hours of admission
• Inability to take hydroxychloroquine due to allergy, QTc > 500 ms (male) or 520 ms (female) prior to initiation of hydroxychloroquine, pre-existing retinopathy, known G6PD deficiency, known porphyria, or significant drug- drug interactions
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• Severe liver disease (Child-Pugh Class C)