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Submitted: 02 Jan 2021
Accepted: 28 Feb 2021
ePublished: 06 Apr 2021
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Immunopathol Persa. 2021;7(2): e29.
doi: 10.34172/ipp.2021.29

Scopus ID: 85112543737
  Abstract View: 1579
  PDF Download: 956

Original

Prophylactic effects of hydroxychloroquine on the incidence of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic arthritis: an observational cohort study

Zohre Naderi 1 ORCID logo, Bahar Sadeghi 2, Ziba Farajzadegan 3 ORCID logo, Ramin Sami 1 ORCID logo, Mansour Salesi 1* ORCID logo, Vahid Mansouri 4* ORCID logo, Babak Amra 5 ORCID logo

1 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3 Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4 Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
5 Bamdad Respiratory and Sleep Research Center, Pulmonary and Sleep Ward, Internal Medicine Department, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
*Corresponding Authors: *Correspondence to Mansour Salesi, Email: , Email: Salesi@med.mui.ac.ir; Vahid Mansouri, Email: , Email: Mansoury.vahid@gmail. com

Abstract

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with substantial morbidity and mortality. Anti-malarial drugs like hydroxychloroquine are indicated in several rheumatic diseases such as RA. Some reports have suggested hydroxychloroquine for prevention of COVID-19.

Objectives: Whether hydroxychloroquine has prophylactic effects for COVID-19 in rheumatic patients.

Patients and Methods: In this multicenter cohort-based observational study the preventive effect of hydroxychloroquine regarding the incidence and severity of COVID-19 was investigated in patients with RA who referred to rheumatology clinics of academic hospitals of Isfahan between April and July 2020 and already have been treated with hydroxychloroquine for more than three months. Around 215 patients with RA and current use of hydroxychloroquine were recruited and followed for three months. Patients’ information was gathered using the medical record or by phone call.

Results: The incidence of COVID-19 in this selected sample was 4.2% (n=9). Only one in nine patients needed hospitalization, without need for intubation or ICU care. Symptoms including dry cough, headache, body pain, malaise, dyspnea, fever, sore throat, chills, and chest pain, were reported to be statistically higher in COVID-19+ group.

Conclusion: In contrast to the mortality rate in the general population of Isfahan, Iran (4.8% - until June 2020), no mortality has been reported in these patients. Therefore, it seems that the use of hydroxychloroquine has been able to reduce the incidence and severity of the disease after reaching steady-state levels. This finding has clinical importance, especially for rheumatic patients using immunomodulatory drugs.


Citation: Naderi Z, Sadeghi B, Farajzadegan Z, Sami R, Salesi M, Mansouri V, Amra B. Prophylactic effects of hydroxychloroquine on the incidence of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic arthritis: an observational cohort study. Immunopathol Persa. 2021;7(2):e29. DOI:10.34172/ ipp.2021.29.
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