To Prevent Progression of COVID-19
… vitamin D levels are an important indicator of the severity of symptoms in patients with COVID-19
… assess the effectiveness of HCQ ( Hydroxychloroquine ), AZM ( Azithromycin ), and zinc with or without IVC ( Intravenous vitamin C ) in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in reducing symptom severity and duration and preventing death
… The trial is registered on the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry … approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
… hospitalized patients with COVID-19 aged 22-99 years
… 73% had comorbidities, including diabetes (35%), heart disease (36%), and lung disease (34%)
… All but one patient (99.6%; n = 236/237) treated with HCQ, AZM, and zinc with or without high-dose IV vitamin C (IVC) fully recovered
… Additional IVC therapy contributed significantly to a quicker recovery (15 days versus 45)
… Side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting, reported by 15%-27% of the patients, were mild to moderate and transient
… No cardiac side effects were observed
… Low vitamin D levels were significantly correlated with a higher probability of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and longer hospital stay
… treatment protocol of HCQ, AZM, and zinc with or without vitamin C is safe and effective in the treatment of COVID-19
… confirms vitamin D deficiency to be a high-risk factor of severe COVID-19 disease and hospitalization, with 97% of our study’s patient cohort being vitamin D deficient
… October 2021, a meta-analysis of more than 290 worldwide trials involving more than 412,000 patients found that
… HCQ significantly reduced morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19
… when HCQ is used in early treatment, a meta-analysis of 32 studies involving more than 54,600 patients
… to improve symptoms and prevent death by 64%-75%