Treatment with Hydroxychloroquine Cut Death Rate Significantly  in COVID-19 Patients, Henry Ford Health System Study Shows    

https://www.henryford.com/news/2020/07/hydro-treatment-study

 DETROIT – Treatment with hydroxychloroquine cut the death rate significantly in sick patients hospitalized with COVID-19 – and without heart-related side-effects, according to a new study published by Henry Ford Health System.  

In a large-scale retrospective analysis of 2,541 patients hospitalized between March 10 and May 2, 2020 across the system’s six hospitals, the study found 13% of those treated with hydroxychloroquine alone died compared to 26.4% not treated with hydroxychloroquine. None of the patients had documented serious heart abnormalities; however, patients were monitored for a heart condition routinely pointed to as a reason to avoid the drug as a treatment for COVID-19.   

The study was published today in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, the peer-reviewed, open-access online publication of the International Society of Infectious Diseases (ISID.org).  

Patients treated with hydroxychloroquine at Henry Ford met specific protocol criteria as outlined by the hospital system’s Division of Infectious Diseases. The vast majority received the drug soon after admission; 82% within 24 hours and 91% within 48 hours of admission. All patients in the study were 18 or over with a median age of 64 years; 51% were men and 56% African American.   

“The findings have been highly analyzed and peer-reviewed,” said Dr. Marcus Zervos, division head of Infectious Disease for Henry Ford Health System, who co-authored the study with Henry Ford epidemiologist Dr. Samia Arshad. “We attribute our findings that differ from other studies to early treatment, and part of a combination of interventions that were done in supportive care of patients, including careful cardiac monitoring. Our dosing also differed from other studies not showing a benefit of the drug. And other studies are either not peer reviewed, have limited numbers of patients, different patient populations or other differences from our patients.”  

Zervos said the potential for a surge in the fall or sooner, and infections continuing worldwide, show an urgency to identifying inexpensive and effective therapies and preventions.   

“We’re glad to add to the scientific knowledge base on the role and how best to use therapies as we work around the world to provide insight,” he said. “Considered in the context of current studies on the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19, our results suggest that the drug may have an important role to play in reducing COVID-19 mortality.”  

“Our analysis shows that using hydroxychloroquine helped saves lives,” said neurosurgeon Dr. Steven Kalkanis, CEO, Henry Ford Medical Group and Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Henry Ford Health System. “As doctors and scientists, we look to the data for insight. And the data here is clear that there was benefit to using the drug as a treatment for sick, hospitalized patients.”  

I'm not surprised at all by this based on what I learned about how hydroxychloroquine works then finding out that steroids(like I've been taking for 26 years) and blood thinners worked very effectively to treat COVID a couple of weeks ago.

I'm not a doctor but I understand the biological mechanism of how steroids work to reduce inflammation and since this is what is thought to help COVID patients,, it would only make sense that another drug, hydroxychloroquine(that works a bit differently to reduce inflammation) would also have the same affect. 

                Common Steroid is Treatment for Severe COVID-19?            

                           Started by metmike - June 18, 2020, 12:30 p.m.            

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/54087/

You might remember that this drug has been in widespread use for a very long time to treat lupus and osteoarthritis because it reduces inflammation. It's also used to treat malaria because it kills the parasite by a different mechanism. I stated on the forum several times that I would love to use hydrox if I got COVID because the worst thing that could happen is that it would at least help with my inflammation/autoimmune issues.

This is a peer reviewed study and is pretty compelling and again, makes medical sense based on what we found out in the last month about steroids also working by reducing inflammation. It's sort of sad that we can't trust news sources and even medical studies, like the one earlier this year that claimed hydroxychlogoquine was actually killing patients(hundreds of millions of people have taken it for malaria for decades with no major side effects........ but that one made headline news for weeks). Turns out that study was discredited.

 This one will not be!

Previous threads on this topic:

                Scientists/academics-On the “science” of COVID            

                            15 responses |            

                Started by metmike - May 31, 2020, 2:40 p.m.            

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/53061/

                Trump’s taking hydroxychloroquine (and he could cause alot of deaths)        

                                Started by metmike - May 18, 2020, 7:30 p.m.            

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/52380/

                FDA approves COVID-19 fighting drugs            

                            15 responses |                

                Started by metmike - March 30, 2020, 11 p.m.            

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/49777/

metmike: On the FDA here. I have shown how blatantly corrupt this entity is for years.(they thrive on bribes). They are hopelessly incompetent as shown here. Earlier this year, they fast tracked this drug and recommended it because they claimed it showed enough benefits with early results. Then, they did an about face and revoked emergency use because of bogus studies and political pressure(which is what drives them much of the time).

Now, what are they to do with this  compelling, peer reviewed evidence of the sort that should drive all their decisions?

It's completely clear that they have to reverse again, for the 3rd time in 3 months in order to save lives............and this time its for the right reason(and supports their decision, 2 decisions ago). But this has been an open display of the sort of thing that defines the FDA. See links to follow.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

FDA revokes authorization of drug Trump touted

By Jacqueline Howard, Arman Azad and Maggie Fox, CNN

Updated 5:44 PM ET, Mon June 15, 2020 

 (CNN)The Food and Drug Administrationhas revoked its emergency use authorization for the drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for the treatment of Covid-19.

Hydroxychloroquine was frequently touted by President Donald Trump, and he has claimed to have used it himself. 

After reviewing the current research available on the drugs, the FDA determined that the drugs do not meet "the statutory criteria" for emergency use authorization as they are unlikely to be effective in treating Covid-19 based on the latest scientific evidence, the agency noted on its website on Monday.

"FDA has concluded that, based on this new information and other information discussed in the attached memorandum, it is no longer reasonable to believe that oral formulations of HCQ and CQ may be effective in treating COVID-19, nor is it reasonable to believe that the known and potential benefits of these products outweigh their known and potential risks," FDA chief scientist Denise Hinton wrote in a letter to Gary Disbrow of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) on Monday. Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have been tied to serious cardiac eventsas well as other side effects among Covid-19 patients. 

"Accordingly, FDA revokes the EUA for emergency use of HCQ and CQ to treat COVID-19," Hinton wrote in the letter, using abbreviations for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. "As of the date of this letter, the oral formulations of HCQ and CQ are no longer authorized by FDA to treat COVID-19."

metmike: The FDA consists of a bunch of corrupt, incompetent people that often use politics and bribery to determine policies. 

Hidden conflicts? Pharma payments to FDA advisers after drug approvals spark ethical concerns

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/07/hidden-conflicts-pharma-payments-fda-advisers-after-drug-approvals-spark-ethical

Among the investigation's key findings:

• Of 107 physician advisers who voted on the committees Science examined, 40 over a nearly 4-year period received more than $10,000 in post hoc earnings or research support from the makers of drugs that the panels voted to approve, or from competing firms; 26 of those gained more than $100,000; and six more than $1 million.
• Of the more than $24 million in personal payments or research support from industry to the 16 top-earning advisers—who received more than $300,000 each—93% came from the makers of drugs those advisers previously reviewed or from competitors.
• Most of those top earners—and many others—received other funds from those same companies, concurrent with or in the year before their advisory service. Those payments were disclosed in scholarly journals but not by FDA.

This is going off on a tangent but we just saw how messed up our FDA is. We will NEVER have affordable health care.......NEVER until we fix the FDA and get drugs costs down, just for a start!

                Corruption causing our health care system to collapse            

                13 responses |           

                Started by metmike - Oct. 16, 2019, 12:05 p.m.            

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/41122/

More compelling evidence to support this:

                Fixing the health care system            

                           Started by metmike - Aug. 23, 2019, 10:44 p.m.            

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/37549/

As expected, CNN is there to tell us why we should NOT believe this peer reviewed study...............not to objectively report the findings but to tell us why this study is probably no good because it contradicts their politics and supports Trumps. However, I listed a quote, that if true about the study could have been responsible for much of the positive benefits that are being attributed to this drug.

Knowing this, I will stay undecided on the benefits, even though the way the drug works to reduce inflammation, would suggest it to be potentially favorable for treatment. Also, the safety of the drug has been indisputably proven from hundreds of millions of doses given to people during the last few decades.

So the study that suggested it might be killing people from side affects should be ignored  and I believe has already been shown to be flawed.

Study finds hydroxychloroquine may have boosted survival, but other researchers have doubts

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/02/health/hydroxychloroquine-coronavirus-detroit-study/index.html

"concomitant steroid use in patients receiving hydroxychloroquine was more than double the non-treated group. This is relevant considering the recent RECOVERY trial that showed a mortality benefit with dexamethasone." The steroid dexamethasone can reduce inflammation in seriously ill patients."

Again with the incessant blaming of CNN And Conservatives whining . booo hoop mean old CNN  is reporting  science that points out Trump and HCQ is crap

As expected, CNN is there to tell us why we should NOT believe this peer reviewed study...............not to objectively report the findings but to tell us why this study is probably no good because it contradicts their politics and supports Trumps.

CNN is not saying  anything 

CNN is carrying the comments of other medical researches about why this study is nonsense.

 For some reason there are people out there who seem to think of the stories on scene and it must be biased or flawed or liberal or what have you

 If CNN is carrying the latest MLB scores or the latest hurricane  update from NHC that doesn't mean the scores of made up or the hurricane  is fake or a CNN

come on Mike  stop with  pathetic  CNN Bashing 

"come on Mike  stop with  pathetic  CNN Bashing"

Thanks Dave!

Let me help you out again to see the objective facts and science.

I know that you hate Trumps guts and favor CNN because they base their one sided reporting on this, so that you are unable to see it in their reporting  but I'll give you an example on this report.

"A surprising new study found the controversial antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine helped patients better survive in the hospital. But the findings, like the federal government's use of the drug itself, were disputed."

"It's a surprising finding because several other studies have found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine, a drug originally developed to treat and prevent malaria. President Donald Trump touted the drug heavily, but later studies found not only did patients not do better if they got the drug, they were more likely to suffer cardiac side effects."

metmike: This biased reporter is not just reporting the objective news, they are inserting THEIR Emotion, surprised.....which is an opinion to discredit this new study because they assumed and want the readers to assume that the  old studies had already proven this drug is no good and we should all be surprised and not believe the results of this one.

Then, they go on again as they have,  to make the assertion of dangerous cardiac side effects for a drug that has been used by many tens of millions of people safely for decades.

The main study which warned us about the cardiac side effects was discredited and the medical community condemned it and the methods resoundingly. Maybe you  missed that one since you get your news from  CNN.

Lancet faces severe criticism from scientific community: Hydroxychloroquine study is hiding data

https://in.dental-tribune.com/news/lancet-faces-severe-criticism-from-scientific-community-hydroxychloroquine-study-is-hiding-data/

"More than 100 scientists and clinicians have sent an open letter to The Lancet's editor, Richard Horton, and the paper's authors asking them many uncomfortable questions, but have failed to receive convincing answers from the authors. How can a drug like Hydroxychloroquine produced in such huge quantities for a country as populous as India, safely consumed by millions & millions of chronic users for so many decades without any adverse effects, suddenly get a negative report in 2020 when it's most needed for a pandemic such as COVID -19?"

The hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) efficacy issue has generated a lot of debate globally as well. The Lancet study is now under severe criticism from more than 180 scientists worldwide for not releasing the data for an independent analysis outside.

The scientific community is furious seeing a poorly written and poorly executed study published in The Lancet that has not only received huge underserved publicity but also created a massive negative impact on the other judiciously planned clinical trials being conducted around the world. More than 100 scientists and clinicians have sent an open letter to The Lancet's editor, Richard Horton, and the paper's authors asking them many uncomfortable questions, but have failed to receive convincing answers from the authors.

Read the open letter here

The letter alleges that

1. the authors have not adhered to the standard practices of the scientific community
2. the authors have not disclosed the data or the code.
3. the study has not gone through the mandatory ethical review
4. the authors have not mentioned the locations (countries/ hospitals) that have contributed to the data.
5. plus many more unscientific, unethical and questionable standards applied.

Meanwhile, Professor Harvey Risch, MD, Epidemiologist from Yale University has recommended an early therapy with Hydroxychloroquine & Azithromycin in the early therapy for COVID-19. His study Early Outpatient Treatment of Symptomatic, High-Risk Covid-19 Patients that Should be Ramped-Up Immediately as Key to the Pandemic Crisis has been published by Oxford University Press, on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

With regards to bashing CNN.............thanks for reminding me (-:

My 2 favorites are "fight back against this dictator by protesting..........during a pandemic"  Don Lemon and fake being quarunteed in the basement, roid rage Chris Cuomo.

                Chris Cuomo            

I don't know of a more dishonest person on television.

                                        Started by metmike - April 25, 2020, 1:11 p.m.            

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/51149/

 Prominent messenger of hate exposed            

                            4 responses |           

                Started by metmike - Aug. 13, 2019, 1:51 p.m.            

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/36786/

                Don Lemon-CNN            

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/52897/

          More on CNN:

      How to make the world  better place November 12, 2019            

                6 responses |           

                Started by metmike - Nov. 12, 2019, 9:05 p.m.            

            https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/42786/

Responsible, objective, professional and fair minded  journalism has been pushed aside by the progressive activists that dominate the field more and more.

Their objective is to convert as many people as possible to their belief systems.

There still are still many very good journalists in the field and much of the reporting done by the bad journalists is about non political topics, where their personal bias does not come into play.

However, entities like CNN and CNBC on topics like President Trump and the Fake Climate Crisis are quintessential examples of what has gone very wrong. 

Some of my favorite examples:

https://thefederalist.com/2019/03/28/cnn-and-msnbc-made-shakedown-artist-michael-avenatti-a-household-name/

"Avenatti was interviewed on broadcast and cable news networks 214 times from March to November 2018"

Michael Avenatti Appeared On CNN And MSNBC Over 100 Times In 10-Week Period In 2018

https://dailycaller.com/2019/03/25/avenatti-cnn-msnbc-interviews-before-indictment/

https://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/michael-avenatti-prison/

Michael Avenatti Faces 36 New Counts and Up to 335 Years in prison.

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: How to make the world  better place November 12, 2019            

                By metmike - Nov. 19, 2019, 7:52 p.m.            

From CNN:

University psychiatrist: Trump 'may be responsible for many more million deaths' than Hitler, Stalin, and Mao

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/duke-psychiatrist-trump-may-be-responsible-for-many-more-million-deaths-than-hitler-stalin-and-mao

"The former chairman of the Psychiatry Department at Duke University claimed on CNN that President Trump is as bad as the worst dictators of the 20th century, and that his presidency might lead to even more deaths than they did."

To make it "authentic" for you: Snopes

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/psychiatrist-hitler-stalin-and-mao/

Yellow journalism is thriving in the year 2019!

Dave,

Based on your comments. it appears that you have already decided that this drug will not work, just like CNN decided that when Trump came out for it.............and you will only believe studies that show what you want to see and when a study comes out that contradicts it, you won't consider the results.

As stated before, I am not concluding anything for sure with this drug. I remain open minded and will look at ALL studies and ALL the science, regardless of whether it supports or rejects Trump's view.

Trump has some messed up science ideas for sure.................but that doesn't matter to me in evaluating science. My views are completely independent of his positions.

Speaking of which, I have an autoimmune disorder similar to Lupus(Ankylosing Spondilitis and have been taking a moderate dose of steroids(prednisone) non stop/daily for 26 years........as well as other meds.

This drug has saved the lives of millions of people during the last 50 years....including mine. Without it, I would have died 2 decades ago!  We have strong evidence that these exact same steroids help COVID patients tremendously.

1. It greatly reduces  systemic inflammation if taken orally (helpful for lung inflammation)

2. It suppresses/regulates an over active immune response(which is killing some to many COVID patients)

Hydroxy works completely differently but also effectively reduces inflammation(by a non steroidal mechanism). 

This is why people like me, with lupus and various forms of arthritis have been taking it for a very long time with tremendous benefits and limited side effects for a brief course of it for COVID with the right dosing would have very few side affects)

I assume that you don't actually understand how it works or you would not have this opinion to assume it CAN'T help COVID patients.

With high confidence, it would reduce inflammation in COVID patients..............which by itself tells you that it WOULD  help SOME patients..........not could but WOULD help Dave. 

Who would those patients be?

The ones that have raging inflammation which is destroying their bodies/lungs and ability to function because of it.

Dave,

You really should not emphatically criticize other people or science/medicine/studies on a topic that you know nothing about.

Opinions are great and we encourage them in all respectful forms here. Just know that the more passionate that you are about something that you really are not an expert on and end up being wrong about..............the sillier that you look if you end up being wrong.

Maybe this drug will end up not working at all for anybody(though too many studies show benefits for SOME people that it seems unlikely) .

I am open to that possibility. 

For those that insist that its got major side effects(heart) like CNN they have already been proven wrong.

If/when more evidence comes out that it helps SOME patients, those insisting it can't help anybody will only look as silly as they made themselves look by pretending to know the answer before hand. 

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/50115/

Hate is the most destructive emotion of all.

It will cause you to lower and violate the  previous standards that you set for yourself for ethical behavior and honestly because this emotion drives you to hurt the person that you hate more than those  previous standards cause you to follow the truth and be objective...............and act professionally, with integrity. 

It will cause you to do and say things that are harmful to you and your reputation when the hate becomes neurotic because you become so obsessed with harming the hated person that rational thinking no longer applies.

Your interpretation of circumstances involving the hated person becomes so blatantly skewed  that the hoped for endpoint in every realm is always for them to be hurt. 

Hate blackens the heart and soul of the hater. It can ruin personal relationships and ironically, more often than not destroys the hater, not the target of their hatred.

This emotion drives the thoughts of many people when it comes to any issue involving President Trump.

met mike  wrote

Thanks Dave!

Let me help you out again to see the objective facts and science.   - well you sure did NOT use any facts or science here.  Your entire   reply is  mindless CNN bashing  and  you dont cite any   issues I raised about the stiudy

I know that you hate Trumps guts and favor CNN because they base their one sided reporting on this, so that you are unable to see it in their reporting  but I'll give you an example on this report.      

again you attacking my critical thinking skills and my abilities as a scientist for no reason   I raised  5  or 6 issues  the study.    Nothing in your reply is relevant to my points.  Frankly, your comments  that I dont like  trump are immaterial   offense  deceitful  and   inflammatory

 my  feelings on trump have NOTHING to do with the facts/issues I raised
 this study  was NOT clinical
it was purely observational  
used  pre selected applicant
 did NOT use a placebo
 used the approved  steriod  dexastohomne  



 you seem to think  CNN reporting any science makes the science invalid.
 Sorry thats is not how science works.

 so far every time CNN has reported anything the very first comments from you are  CNN is awful.

"A surprising new study found the controversial antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine helped patients better survive in the hospital. But the findings, like the federal government's use of the drug itself, were disputed."

"It's a surprising finding because several other studies have found no benefit from hydroxychloroquine, a drug originally developed to treat and prevent malaria. President Donald Trump touted the drug heavily, but later studies found not only did patients not do better if they got the drug, they were more likely to suffer cardiac side effects."

 SO WHAT????

metmike: This biased reporter is not just reporting the objective news, they are inserting THEIR Emotion, surprised.....which is an opinion to discredit this new study because they assumed and want the readers to assume that the  old studies had already proven this drug is no good and we should all be surprised and not believe the results of this one.    -- 100 % wrong.   There  is NO bias here. Most of the studies show HCQ  is crap 

Then, they go on again as they have,  to make the assertion of dangerous cardiac side effects for a drug that has been used by many tens of millions of people safely for decades.

The main study which warned us about the cardiac side effects was discredited and the medical community condemned it and the methods resoundingly. Maybe you  missed that one since you get your news from  CNN
 
 clearly    all your news is ONLY from CNN since all  you do  is bash it  
Also None of the 5 or 6  legit  issues I raised with this   silly  study   came from CNN  

I already made the relevant points loud and clear.

Argue with yourself, now Dave, the expert on hydroxychloroquine, medical studies and CNN's objectivity.

really mike?  please point out which your comments   are  in reply to these points

https://www.marketforum.com/forum/topic/55166/

Funny Dave,

You are like vandy was............I recognize your type and know how to manage it.

You come here to attack and get into arguments. This is what feeds a troll and somebody with psychological problems that derives enjoyment out of getting other people upset. 

Like I said, I made my points, argue with yourself............and sorry to disappoint that I won't be baited into a long lived silly argument that can NEVER be resolved between us..........and by design, you DON'T want it to because its the argument that you come here for.

I reached out to assist vandenplas with psychological help(sincerely) but he rejected it each time.

All I will do for you is identify your unacceptable(by societies standards) behaviors. You can get the counseling that  you need on your own.....or work on it yourself.

Dave,

Here is my response on this from other links that you are using to try to keep the argument going:

Dave,

You keep repeating this over and over and over as if it means that this drug can't work because you don't understand how the drug works.

I had already acknowledged my concern with this study when finding out that some patients were also taking steroids. 

Personally, I have not decided how much HCQ works but being familiar with the biological mechanism...........which is why its used extensively for autoimmune diseases and inflammation, I am 100% certain that it would help to fight inflammation in SOME patients. 

This may be 1 reason why steroids are working too(the other is that steroids suppress /regulate your immune system.

You keep hanging your hat on anything and everything that shows this drug can't work.......including discrediting ALL results of the latest study, as if the HCQ couldn't have been responsible for any of those big life savings benefits.

Whether you will admit it or not, if inflammation is part of this disease(in the lungs) as reports suggest then HCQ will help SOME patients because its proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that HCQ reduces inflammation.

You keep dwelling on everything that discredits this drug....................I'm looking at everything with an open mind and a pretty good understanding of how it actually works.

Show me where I am wrong about the inflammation?

This is why I'm right:

Hydroxychloroquine inhibits IL-1β production from amyloid-stimulated human neutrophils

https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13075-019-2040-6

Results

SAA stimulation induced significant production of IL-1β in human neutrophils. SAA stimulation also induced NF-κB activation, pro-IL-1β mRNA expression, and NLRP3 protein expression in human neutrophils. HCQ pretreatment significantly inhibited the SAA-induced IL-1β production in human neutrophils, but did not affect the SAA-induced NF-κB activation, pro-IL-1β mRNA expression, and NLRP3 protein expression. Furthermore, SAA stimulation induced cleaved caspase-1 (p20) secretion from human neutrophils, and this release was suppressed by HCQ pretreatment.

This seems like the most powerful evidence yet for its benefits:

Hydroxychloroquine-based COVID-19 Treatment, A Systematic Review of Clinical Evidence and Expert Opinion from Physicians’ Surveys

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2020/07/07/hydroxychloroquine-based-covid-19-treatment-a-systematic-review-of-clinical-evidence-and-expert-opinion-from-physicians-surveys/

Conclusions

"85% of the globally surveyed physicians recognized HCQ as at least partially effective in treating COVID-19, according to Sermo W3. More than half of the surveyed US physicians would take the drug or give it to family members early or even before onset of symptoms, according to JC."

Aside from the rarely used plasma, HCQ / HCQ+AZ based treatments are preferred by physicians by wide margin over other drugs.  HCQ / HCQ+AZ based treatments are the most used, most recommended, and most highly rated by physicians treating COVID-19 at an early stage."

metmike: This was my comment:

I have an auto immune disorder, related to  ankylosing spondylitis and lupus and have been taking all sorts of meds for 26 years, including a moderate dose of steroids daily that entire time.
It was interesting to find out in June that patients receiving steroids fared much better than those who did not receive steroids. 

This is thought to be from the reduction in inflammation(in the lungs) and also the suppressing/modulating of the immune system which steroids cause. In COVID patients the immune system  can go berserk, setting off a cytokine storm.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2767939

There are several things that we know about HCQ with certainty. One of them is that its been given to hundreds of millions of people world wide, mostly for malaria with very few side effects. So it’s proven to be safe if used properly.

Another thing is that it reduces inflammation. This is why its also given to patients with lupus and other forms of arthritis, with significant benefits and improvements in health/inflammation.
https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13075-019-2040-6

So in using it with COVID patients, we already know that its safe and that it WILL reduce inflammation in at least some patients……….that’s what the drug does.
With that being the case, one assumes that if inflammation in the lungs from COVID is adversely affecting patients and outcomes, then HCQ, with its anti inflammatory PROVEN benefits should help at least some patients by reducing inflammation. 

You can  find results in recent studies that are all over the place about this drug.  Which ones to believe and which ones not to believe? Some completely contradict each other. 

However,  medical doctors should/do  understand how HCQ works and the clear anti inflammatory properties and the long proven safety. This is why they are prescribing it to so many patients.
Their patients would/will be dead or recovered if they wait around for the wishy washy, incompetent, corrupt and political FDA to decide on a final position with regards to HCQ.