Trump drug 'raises death risk in Covid patients'
The drug US President Donald Trump said he was taking to defend against Covid-19 actually increases the risk of patients with the condition dying from it, a report in the Lancet has found.
The study said there have been no advantages to treating patients with the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine.
Mr Trump said he was taking the drug despite public health officials warning that it might cause heart problems.
The president has repeatedly promoted the drug, against medical advice.
Hydroxychloroquine is safe for malaria, and conditions like lupus or arthritis, but no clinical trials have recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus.
The Lancet study involved 96,000 coronavirus patients, practically 15,000 of whom received hydroxychloroquine - or a related form chloroquine - either alone or with an antibiotic.
The study discovered that the patients were much more likely to die in hospital and develop heart rhythm issues than other Covid patients in a comparison group.
The death rates of the treated groups were: hydroxychloroquine 18%; chloroquine 16.4%; control group 9%. Those treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine in combo with antibiotics had a straight higher death rate.
The researchers warned that hydroxychloroquine shouldn't be used outside of clinical trials.
Mr Trump says he has not tested positive for Covid-19 and is taking the drug because he thinks it has "positive benefits".
A trial is under way to see if the anti-malarial drug could prevent Covid-19. A lot more than 40,000 healthcare staff from Europe, Africa, Asia and SOUTH USA who are in touch with patients with the condition will be given the drug within the trial.
When asked about the Lancet study, White House coronavirus taskforce co-ordinator Dr Deborah Birx said the united states Food and Drug Administration have been "clear" about concerns in using the drug as either a coronavirus prevention or as cure course.
Dr Marcos Espinal, director of the Pan American Health Organization - the main World Health Organization - has stressed that no clinical trials have recommended the utilization of hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus.
