Abstract
The search for a SARS-CoV-2 treatment has emerged as a worldwide priority. We evaluated the role of chloroquine and its derivatives in COVID-19 in Spanish individuals. We performed a survey addressed to patients regularly taking chloroquine and its derivatives for the control of their autoimmune diseases. The survey was distributed with special attention to Spanish patient associations centred on autoimmune diseases and rheumatology and to the general population. A sample of untreated subjects was matched to the treated group according to sex, age range and incidence region. COVID-19 disease prevalence was compared between treated and untreated-matched control sample. A total of 319 surveys of patients regularly taking chloroquine and its derivatives were recovered for further analysis. The prevalence of declared COVID-19 status in the treated group was 5.3% and the mean prevalence among the untreated-matched groups was 3.4%. A community exposition to COVID-19 was associated with a greater prevalence of COVID-19 in both, treated (17.0% vs. 3.2%; p-value<0.001) and untreated groups (13.4% vs. 1.1%; p-value = 0.027). We did not find differences of reported COVID-19 cases between treated and untreated groups, indicating a lack of protection by regular administration of chloroquine and its derivative drugs on COVID-19 infection. Of relevance, data indicates that patients that regularly take chloroquine derivatives are exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection and must take the same protection measures as the general population.
Highlights
The search for an effective treatment against SARS-CoV-2 infection has emerged as a worldwide priority
A community exposition to COVID-19 was associated with a greater prevalence of COVID-19 in both, treated (17.0% vs. 3.2%; p-value
Data indicates that patients that regularly take chloroquine derivatives are exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection and must take the same protection measures as the general population
Summary
The search for an effective treatment against SARS-CoV-2 infection has emerged as a worldwide priority. Chloroquine can reduce ACE2 glycosylation, thereby preventing viruses from effectively binding to cells [3]. Two recent clinical trials have presented inconclusive evidence on the effectiveness of chloroquine treatment in COVID-19 disease in Chinese [6] and French [7] populations. Both studies have supported the use of chloroquine or chloroquine derivatives against COVID-19, the design and conclusions of both studies have been questioned [8]. We evaluated the role of chloroquine and its derivatives in COVID-19 in Spanish individuals
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