Recent studies about malaria drug showed it caused deaths and has no benefits over coronavirus patients

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Anti-malaria drug earlier advertised by Trump has caused more harm than benefit to COVID-19 patients, research says.
• The study suggested that standard coronavirus treatments alone are better than having malaria treatment.
• As of date, no less than 171, 000 people have died because of coronavirus in the U.S. 

Recent studies conducted by several U.S veterans hospitals showed that the anti-malaria drug, which was earlier promoted by President Donald Trump as a treatment for COVID-19,  had no benefits against the virus.

Researchers also discovered that there are more casualties to those who were administered with hydroxychloroquine compared to those who received regular coronavirus treatment.

The research about the potential cure was not as extensive; however, with 368 patients, this was the most massive experiment yet about hydroxychloroquine, and this was made even with or without pairing with the antibiotic azithromycin.

As of Tuesday, coronavirus related deaths in the U.S have already reached 171,000.

The scientific study is now available online through a research-focused site, and the New England Journal of Medicine has yet to have a peer review.

It was reported the University of Virginia and the National Institutes of Health financed the study through a grant.

The researchers examined the medical accounts of 368 male seniors who were confined at Veterans Health Administration medical centers because of coronavirus diagnosis. The said patients either passed away or been discharged on or before April 11.

Around 28% of the patients who took hydroxychloroquine with standard care died, while 11% of them are just receiving the latter treatment.

The study also found out that at least 22% of individuals receiving malaria treatment with azithromycin died as well.

Experts also observed that hydroxychloroquine had no effect on the use of a breathing machine as well.

While scientists did not consider recording the potential effects of the drugs, they subtly indicated that hydroxychloroquine might have affected other organs.

Before the study, the prescribed medicine has been proven to have possibly dangerous side effects, which include heartbeat fluctuations that can cause death.

Scientists in Brazil have previously halted part of hydroxychloroquine research following heart beating irregularities findings which developed in about a quarter of individuals administered with higher doses for the test.

It was also earlier reported that a significant number of doctors have been suspicious of the drug’s potential as a coronavirus treatment.

The medical director of Infection Control and prevention of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Dr Nasia Safdar, said that they are not impressed with the drug, noting their observation to some patients who tried hydroxychloroquine.

Safdar also noted that patients started asking questions about the drug following Trump’s announcement. The medical director, who had no part in the drug’s value analysis (VA), further said that the people now have an idea if the drugs either work or not.

Meanwhile, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is on the process of having a broader study on the treatment.

Source: AOL