The Lancet corrects hydroxychloroquine paper after backlash
The Lancet has issued four corrections to a research paper that found COVID-19 patients who used the drug hydroxychloroquine have a higher risk of death. The research may have played a part in the World Health Organization’s decision to suspend a clinical trial evaluating hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 treatment.
After questions arose over the findings, a group of hundreds of researchers and scientists wrote to The Lancet with a list of 10 concerns and calls for more transparency.
In its corrections, The Lancet noted that the appendix was corrected, along with adding the unadjusted raw summary data. The corrections also clarified the number of participants from Asia and Australia should have been 8,101 and 63, respectively, and that one hospital that self-designated as belonging to Australasia should have been designated as belonging to Asia.
“There have been no changes to the findings of the paper,” the correction reads.
Hydroxychloroquine has become a controversial drug when it comes to COVID-19. The drug, which is typically used to treat malaria, has been praised by President Trump for benefitting COVID-19 patients. In fact, the president stated he had been taking the drug himself to prevent infection in mid-May.
Other studies have shown a higher risk for cardiovascular events and death when COVID-19 patients take hydroxychloroquine.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."