Beneficial Effect of the Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine/Azithromycin Combination in Patients with COVID-19: Results of an Observational Study

Abstract

One hundred and three patients with COVID-19 received chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine/ azithromycin combination between March 24 and May 26, 2020. The dosages of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin were in accordance with the protocol of the Moroccan Ministry of Health. The mean age of our series was 43.7 ± 16 years, and males were the most affected (55%). 19 patients had comorbidities, dominated by arterial hypertension (10.7%), diabetes (7.8%), and pulmonary pathologies (4.9%). Seventy-seven patients were asymptomatic (74.8%). Dry cough was the main functional symptom in our series (55.3%). The most predominant scan appearance was isolated ground glass areas. The majority of patients in our series (52%) were under chloroquine/azithromycin, while 43% of patients were under hydrochloroquine/azithromycin, all patients benefited from adjuvant treatment with vitamin C & D and Zinc. During the treatment period, 39 patients representing 38.6% of the cases showed side effects of the treatment, with an average delay of 4.6 days, the most common side effects were: gastrointestinal affections in 21.4% of the cases, hepatobiliary affections in 12.6% of the cases. Nine people died (8.8%). All other patients who received the HCQ/AZT combination were considered cured in 37.6% of cases only at D 9, with a mean hospitalization time of 17 days (10-40 days).