Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the standard care, hydroxychloroquine (400 mg twice per day for 7 days) and azithromycin (500 mg once per day 7 days) group, the standard care and hydroxychloroquine only group, or the standard care only (control) group. A six-point ordinal scale, with the severity of outcomes increasing from 1 to 6, was used to quantify the clinical status of patients at day 7. There was no significant between-group difference in the outcomes. Then, a seven-point ordinal scale, 7 being the most severe outcome, was used to assess the clinical status of patients at day 15. The figure illustrates the lack of significant difference between the score distributions of the three groups at day 15 (p=1.00). Patients in the control group were less likely to experience adverse events. 

There was no significant difference between the clinical status of patients in the treatment groups and those in the control group after 7 or 15 days

Some clinical studies indicate that there is no significant difference in patient clinical status or outcomes when comparing standard care to COVID-19 treatments using a combination of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and azithromycin (AZM).

City University of New York

Google

This combination of drugs does not appear to improve COVID-19 outcomes and may increase risk of negative outcomes.

- findings in support
- findings opposed
- findings indicate no significant difference in comparison to standard care 

Azithromycin (AZM) + Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as treatment for COVID-19

Research indicating positive outcomes for treating COVID-19 with a combination of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and azithromycin (AZM) includes:
- A French open-label clinical trial showing increased viral clearance by day 6.
- In vitro testing demonstrating a synergistic antiviral effect against SARS-CoV-2.
- A retrospective Detroit study (Henry Ford Medical Group) finding the treatment effective when administered aggressively within 48 hours of patient admission.

Findings in favor of treating COVID-19 infections with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) + azithromycin (AZM)

Findings indicating no significant difference for treating COVID-19 infections with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) + azithromycin (AZM)

Evidence summarized here reported adverse outcomes associated with azithromycin plus hydroxychloroquine in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The combination was associated with more cardiac arrests and abnormal ECG findings in a New York cohort, greater risks of in-hospital mortality and clinically significant ventricular arrhythmia in a multinational registry, and increased mortality in a systematic review and meta-analysis. These findings weigh against using the combination as a COVID-19 treatment.

Learn Before

Related

Learn After