QTc Prolongation in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Patients Receiving Hydroxycloroquine: A Retrospective Study

Background and Aims Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, has infected more than 153 million people and led to the death of 3.3 million others. The absence of an effective treatment other than vaccination, has led clinicians in the beginning to redirect drugs that are known to be effective for other medical conditions to its treatment, such as hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) Our aim is to establish an epidemiological link for our population use of HCQ and elevated QTc prolongation, according to our therapeutic protocol Methods A retrospective cohort study of 753 patients admitted as positive COVID 19 patients, from April 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020, covering a period of 4 months. We then categorised the patient in cohorts accordind to the existence of diabetes melitus or not, and categorised them according to their BMI index. We then correlated using statistical tool analysis - SPSS statistics tool - these groups and QTc prolongation Results Hydroxochloroquine was not associated with QT prolongation or cardiac arrhythmia. Significant correlation between BMI and days of ICU stay Conclusions HCQ had a safe use according to our protocol