A widely debated study that was wasting time and potentially harming people during the pandemic has finally come to an end. This week, the publisher of a science journal retracted a study it claimed showed that hydroxychloroquine could treat COVID-19 came after years of criticism over the study's design and analysis.
Elsevier has issued revocation of the study on Tuesday They cited concerns about how the procedure was conducted and whether patients were properly selected. The study sparked intense interest in hydroxychloroquine's potential to treat COVID-19. Even President Trump supports the use of hydroxychloroquine. However, many experts are unsure about the results of this study. And subsequent studies have failed to replicate those findings.
Hydroxychloroquine, or HCQ, has long been a valuable drug. It was once commonly used to treat acute malaria infections. and more frequently today to treat symptoms of autoimmune diseases such as lupus through laboratory studies. Some scientists have also speculated that the drug may have broad-spectrum antiviral effects. and may be reused to treat COVID-19.
A small, now discontinued study published in International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents March 2020 seemed to support this hunch. It was found that people who received HCQ had lower average virus levels or cleared the infection more quickly. People who took the antibiotic azithromycin seemed to recover more quickly.
This discovery has led to increased interest in the drug. One day after the study was published President Trump persuade Combination therapy is considered A “game changer” for the pandemic, the U.S. government and others announced soon after that they would begin a large trial to test hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin.
It didn't take long for other scientists to find out. lift Concerns about the study, research methods and authors, especially senior author Didier Raoult, a physician and microbiologist, were discussed. Such concerns have been widely investigated.
Elsevier officials along with external experts This study was reviewed. After receiving many complaints from other scientists, The team identified several potential ethical pitfalls. It is not clear if any of the patients involved in the study were enrolled in the study before it was approved. For example, patients may have received azithromycin without proper authorization. And while some authors defend their findings, Three authors told Elsevier they had concerns. They said they were “concerned with the presentation and interpretation of the results” and that they no longer wanted their names on the paper. There are at least ten other documents written by Raoult. was also withdrawn. At Elsevier this year
Perhaps the most damaging legacy of this study is the futile wild goose chase it began. The result is that COVID-19 patients Millions of people have been prescribed HCQ, but in most studies cannot be displayed It is of some use. Some studies have found that it makes people better off. Risk of death from heart problems Despite this research Many people continue to support HCQ and others. Questionable covid-19 treatment (including Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(Which may soon take over the Department of Health and Human Services.) Importantly, this strong support for HCQ may persuade some people to refuse appropriate care for their COVID-19 infection.
Scientists can discover other ancient medicines that are truly effective against COVID-19 especially steroid medicine dexamethasone– Thanks to these medicines and innovations such as vaccines, Covid-19 is now much less of a public health threat. But the anti-science attitude that many HCQ supporters express in their defense Unfortunately still alive and well.