Polat et al., Medical Journal of Bakirkoy, 16:3, 280-6,
doi:10.5222/BMJ.2020.50469 (Peer Reviewed)
Hydroxychloroquine Use on Healthcare Workers Exposed to COVID-19 -A Pandemic Hospital Experience
Small prophylaxis study of 208 healthcare workers in Turkey, 138 with high risk exposure received HCQ, while 70 with low and medium risk exposure did not. COVID-19 cases were lower in the treatment group, relative risk RR 0.43,
p = 0.026. Since the control group had lower risk, the actual benefit may be larger.
Polat et al., 9/30/2020, prospective, Turkey, Europe, peer-reviewed, 3 authors.
risk of COVID-19 case, 57.0% lower, RR 0.43, p = 0.03, treatment 12 of 138 (8.7%), control 14 of 70 (20.0%).
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.