Effet bénéfique de l’association hydroxychloroquine/azithromycine dans le traitement des patients âgés atteints de la COVID-19 : résultats d’une étude observationnelle

Sixty-eight patients, all over 65 years of age and diagnosed PCR-positive for COVID-19, received the hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin combination between March 27 and May 1, 2020. Dosages of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin were in accordance with the protocol of the “Institut hospitalo-universitaire de Marseille”. The mean age was 86.4 ± 8.2 years, mean BMI was 22.8 ± 5.2 kg/m(2). Nineteen patients were overweight (BMI greater than 25 kg/m(2)), four of whom were obese (BMI greater than 30 kg/m(2)). Seven patients had renal impairment of less than 30 mL/min. The survey of associated conditions indicated that about 51.5% of patients had high blood pressure while 28% had heart disease. Of these, 16.2% had diabetes. Only one patient had asthma and one had COPD. Two patients had to stop their treatment after 3 and 9 days of dual therapy respectively due to QTc prolongation. The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of the hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin combination in elderly subjects with COVID-19. During the study period, 7 of the 68 patients studied died. All deaths occurred due to severe respiratory complications of the disease. The remaining patients were considered cured after clinical signs disappeared 21 days after the PCR+ test.