The Story of (Hydroxy)Chloroquine for Treating COVID-19
There is a story that a drug called "chloroquine" or "hydroxychloroquine" was introduced as a miracle cure for COVID-19 and was introduced into treatment protocols in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, greatly increasing demand and depriving patients of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.These drug therapies were definitively concluded by the "Cochrane Review" to be of no clinical benefit in the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.However, the information on these drugs was confusing, creating a sense of "distrust" among scientists, politicians and the general public due to the abundance of polarized opinions.
Originally, "chloroquine" was proposed as a treatment for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, but the outbreak was contained before clinical trials could begin, but a small study of the drug in question on COVID-19 cases reported beneficial results. This announcement led to an increase in demand for Hydroxychloroquine, supported by many media, institutions, celebrities and government officials.In addition, a small study conducted in France on March 20, 2020, showed that the therapeutic results of "hydroxychloroquine" and "azithromycin" were paid, but this paper was severely criticized. This was because it only reported the time to virological clearance as assessed by PCR testing with nasopharyngeal swabs.
Subsequent clinical trials well in excess of the prescribed dose and rushed approval led to the drug being included in treatment guidelines in many countries, but the publication of research papers, retractions and criticism caused confusion and distrust.
Gould S, Norris SL. Contested efficacy and chaotic policy: the 2020 story of (hydroxy)chloroquine for treating COVID-19. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021, no. 1. Art. No.: ED000151. doi: 10.1002 /14651858.ed000151.
Conclusion
I believe that preventive and therapeutic measures against COVID-19 are being researched day and night. However, the fakery that was also told in this drug therapy may have involved many people and increased their distrust of scientific research. I don't know if it was the result of rushing the results or some other influence, but I heard that these things can happen even when there is medical and scientific evidence.
The author has gotten into the habit of reading a lot of research papers, but when I read them, I sometimes feel uncomfortable because of strange points or lack of reproducibility, and sometimes there are things published that have not even been peer-reviewed. Even so, authors need to make an effort not to be fooled by fake research results, but please let us know immediately when there are differences in the research results and other information we introduce.
