Some Media Misread Study on Hydroxychloroquine

May 22, 2020, 5:57 PM EST
See update to this report here.

What happens when the public is misled by media-driven politics? (Credit: May 16, 2020 Creators.com/ author credited in cartoon).

written by Net Advisor

WASHINGTON, DC. Some in the media are running with one incomplete study claiming use of Hydroxychloroquine on Covid-19 patients caused more deaths. As we predicted last March, most of the Coronavirus scare has been political and media-driven.

Yes, there is a new virus. Yes, like many viruses including the Flu, Coronaviruses can also cause one to become ill, and especially impact those with existing fragile immunize systems.

Strangely enough, it seems that many in the politically-driven media don’t want a cure for Coronavirus. Anything that moves toward a possible help, is attacked by many in the media.

As one who came from formal education, experienced and trained in performing academic research; analyzing data and interpreting findings, we reviewed the study in question.

ACTUAL KEY FINDINGS:

  • Study ADMITS using caution. Advises not to infer conclusion that use of Hydroxychloroquine was the causation of death in Coronavirus patients (p8).
  • Study recommends clinical trials of Hydroxychloroquine on Covid-19 patients BEFORE concluding that Hydroxychloroquine caused any harm to patients (p9). Thus the study admits it is not complete nor conclusive.
  • 93% of the patients in the study already had UNDERLINE serious health issues, thus were at elevated health risk(s) to begin with. (See Baseline table, p5.)

The study by its own admission, cannot rule out that those with prior serious health issues would not have died anyway.

Whether one also got Coronavirus, the Flu or anything that could add complications to their unfortunate at-risk immune system, does not mean a 65-year-old (since 1955) FDA approved pharmaceutical is suddenly the cause of massive deaths.

We, nor anyone else, currently does not know whether Hydroxychloroquine or in combination with say the antibiotic Azithromycin, is the magical cure for Coronaviruses such as Covid-19 or not. There are no conclusive studies at this time to prove one way or the other. It may work with some, it may not work for others.

The FDA has not approved treatment of Hydroxychloroquine on Coronavirus patients at this time. Mostly this is due to insufficient (or any) clinical trials completed to provide a rational argument for or against the drug for use on Coronavirus patients.

However, if one is likely to die from complications from underline pre-existing health issues, one may want to discuss “Right to Try” options with their medical doctor(s), along with their spouse and or their significant others.

Hydroxychloroquine – One of the Top Most Prescribed Drugs in USA.

In 2017, Hydroxychloroquine was ranked as the seventh (7th) most prescribed drug in the USA, with over 5.6 million prescriptions issued.

In 2016, Hydroxychloroquine was ranked #3; and in 2015, Hydroxychloroquine was ranked #1 most prescribed drug in the USA. Not one person in the media on the planet ran regular stories claiming safety concerns of Hydroxychloroquine during the Obama Administration did they?

Study – Hydroxychloroquine Use During Pregnancy.

A 2003 study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) through the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), looked at the risks for pregnant women using (prescribed) Hydroxychloroquine for whatever deemed as a medical reason.

The study found that 88% of women taking Hydroxychloroquine during pregnancy and 84% of the control group (those not taking Hydroxychloroquine) still gave successful births. One could argue those taking Hydroxychloroquine had a slightly better chance (4%) of a successful pregnancy, verses those who did not use the drug.

We don’t know why pregnant women were taking the prescribed drug. We only know that regardless of ‘why’, the study found that Hydroxychloroquine was deemed safe in pregnant women.

What We Know About Coronavirus & Risks.

The overall odds of dying from Coronavirus is extremely small. Factoring the entire U.S. population, the odds of death is 0.027% as of May 16, 2020, (see our table).

The odds are across the U.S. population, one will more likely become ill and or die from anything but Coronavirus.

What we do know, is that it appears those quarantined indoors, especially in nursing homes have been at a far greater risk of contracting Coronavirus and have a higher mortality rate.

We also know that some leaders such as in New York, knowingly put people at a higher risk of contracting the virus while in nursing homes. These infected Coronavirus patients should have been properly quarantined in hospitals, not in nursing homes.

The good news is the data on Coronavirus has been improving. It does not mean it’s over, and no one will ever die again.

One thing we have learned is that being outdoors in sunlight has a lower transmission rate from the Coronavirus spreading to others. (See DHS Declassified Chart, page bottom). Yet, the leaders of the top 8 states who ordered people to stay indoors, shutdown their state economies, also have the most Coronavirus deaths. These facts were left out of the ‘study.’


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