Very small retrospective analysis of 34 patients finding slower binary PCR viral clearance with HCQ. No information on severity for treatment versus control is provided. No deaths, ICU admission, or mechanical ventilation. Binary PCR does not distinguish replication-competence. HCQ treatment started very late for many patients with >= 9 days for 25%.
Mallat et al., 5/2/2020, retrospective, Abu Dhabi, Middle East, peer-reviewed, 8 authors.
time to viral-, 203.0% higher, relative time 3.03, p = 0.02, treatment 23, control 11.
Effect extraction follows pre-specified rules prioritizing more serious
outcomes. For an individual study the most serious outcome may have a smaller
number of events and lower statistical signficance, however this provides the
strongest evidence for the most serious outcomes when combining the results of
many trials.