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19M Hydroxychloroquine Tablets Shipped to Cities, DOD, VA

19M Hydroxychloroquine Tablets Shipped to Cities, DOD, VA

FEMA Supplies HCQ to Treat More Than 1 Million Patients

The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) shipped 19.1 million hydroxychloroquine tablets from the Strategic National Stockpile to cities around the country in April. The tablets could be used to treat between 1.3 and 1.6 million COVID-19 patients.

Approximately 10 million will go to the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs as well as to Washington, D.C., Baton Rouge, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Houston and Pittsburgh. Another nine million went to the hard-hit cities of New York, New Orleans, Detroit and Chicago.

Why Cloronique Compounds are Being Used in COVID-19

According to the proposed theory, chloroquine compound (or other similar compounds) work as ionophores to promote zinc transport into the cells, more than what occurs by natural transporter proteins. Zinc is what inhibits the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase enzyme characteristic of this group of viruses. Although chloronique is an immunosuppressant, during severe acute infection the drugs suppress cytokine storm, which is main culprit of Covid-19 death for elderly patients. Even now, people have not concluded why exactly the hydroxychloroquine has been shown to have (some) effectiveness in treating Covid-19.

Smaller HCQ Studies Halted due to Cardiac Risk

Some smaller studies in Brazil, Sweden and Italy have indicated that the drug may have side effects for patients with renal and liver impairment. The American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society last week issued guidance recommending caution with these medications for patients with existing cardiovascular disease.

Meanwhile, the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit began a clinical research study of more than 3,000 health care workers and first responders to see if hydroxychloroquine can prevent or impede COVID-19 in health care workers.

VA Study Finds Higher Death in Patients Using HCQ Treatment

A study of Veterans Affairs COVID-19 patients found higher death rates compared with those not taking the drug and the patients were no less likely to need mechanical ventilation than patients who were not treated with HCQ. In the study, the death rate among the 97 patients treated with HCQ was 27.8% compared to a death rate of 11.4% among the 158 patients who did not take the drug. The VA study also found no evidence that use of hydroxychloroquine, either with or without azithromycin, reduced the risk of mechanical ventilation in patients hospitalized with Covid-19. The patients were all around the age of 70 years old.

The FDA issued new guidance cautioning against the use of HCQ as an outpatient prescription for use outside of a clinical setting or hospital on April 27. Patients who also have other health issues such as heart and kidney disease are likely to be at increased risk of  heart problems when receiving these medicines, the FDA reports. The FDA said those risks “may be mitigated when health care professionals closely screen and supervise these patients such as in a hospital setting or a clinical trial,” which is mentioned in an emergency-use authorization for the drugs issued last month.

Healthcare data company publishes COVID-19 treatment pattern study

Sermo, the largest healthcare data collection company, has published a COVID-19 study compiling the treatment patterns of more than 6,200 physicians in 30 countries. The data covers current treatment options and efficacy, effectiveness of government interventions, personal protective equipment (PPE) and equipment needs and more.

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