Hydroxychloroquine as pre-exposure prophylaxis against COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers: a prospective cohort study

ABSTRACT

Background

Hydroxychloroquine had attracted significant attention in the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic but current recommendations do not support its use. However, the evidence against its use as pre-exposure prophylaxis have been of low to moderate quality and have been limited by high risk of bias.

Methods

Following institutional ethics committee approval, healthcare workers (n = 1294) completing their first week-long COVID in-patient duty, subsequent institutional quarantine and RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 infection were included for this prospective cohort study. Demographic data, hydroxychloroquine usage and related adverse effects were captured through a ‘Caring for the Caregivers’ surveillance system. A chi-Square test of independence was used to determine the effect of hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis.

Results

Among the 1294 participants (age: 31 ± 7 years, 61% women), 273 (21.1%) healthcare workers used hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis as per Indian Council of Medical Research recommendations and 83/1294 (6.4%) tested positive after their duty. There was no significant difference in COVID-19 incidence between those on hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis and those not on it (5.9% vs 6.6%, χ² = 0.177, p = 0.675; RR = 0.89, 95% CI – 0.53 to 1.52). There were no significant adverse effects to hydroxychloroquine usage.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated no benefit of hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis and provides quality evidence against its use in COVID-19 prevention.

KEYWORDS:

• Chemoprevention
• COVID-19
• drug-related side effects and adverse reactions
• health personnel
• hydroxychloroquine

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Ms. Farah Mistry, Department of Physiotherapy, and Mr. Lokesh Karigowda, Staff Nurse, MS Ramaiah Medical College Hospital, for the support in data collection.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

Concept and design: The study was conceived by N Shetty, A Rao and S Kumar Veluswamy. B Gunjiganur Shankarappa, L John and L Mathew contributed towards the design of the study.

Data collection: A Rao, S Kumar Veluswamy. L John, L Mathew, N Umesh and R Manjunatha Reddy contributed towards data collection.

Analysis: A Rao and S Kumar Veluswamy analysed the data.

Writing: A Rao and S Kumar Veluswamy together wrote the first draft and all authors critically reviewed the manuscript and contributed towards the writing.

Approval: All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript for submission

Additional information

Funding

This study was not funded.