Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the standard care, hydroxychloroquine (400 mg twice per day for 7 days) and azithromycin (500 mg once per day 7 days) group, the standard care and hydroxychloroquine only group, or the standard care only (control) group. A six-point ordinal scale, with the severity of outcomes increasing from 1 to 6, was used to quantify the clinical status of patients at day 7. There was no significant between-group difference in the outcomes. Then, a seven-point ordinal scale, 7 being the most severe outcome, was used to assess the clinical status of patients at day 15. The figure illustrates the lack of significant difference between the score distributions of the three groups at day 15 (p=1.00). Patients in the control group were less likely to experience adverse events. 

There was no significant difference between the clinical status of patients in the treatment groups and those in the control group after 7 or 15 days

- In a study of 665 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection, there was no significant difference between the clinical status of patients in the treatment groups and those in the control group after 7 or 15 days. 

City University of New York

This combination of drugs does not appear to improve COVID-19 outcomes and may increase risk of negative outcomes.

- findings in support
- findings opposed
- findings indicate no significant difference in comparison to standard care 

Azithromycin (AZM) + Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as treatment for COVID-19

- Hazard ratio for  in-hospital mortality amongst hospitalized patients in New York City were not significantly different for those given Azithromycin+Hydroxychloroquine

- Odds of cardiac arrest were higher in hospitalized patients in NYC given Azithromycin+Hydroxychloroquine

- Odds of abnormal ECG findings were higher in hospitalized patients in NYC given Azithromycin+Hydroxychloroquine

- From multinational registry of patients hospitalized between 12/20/19 and 4/14/20, individuals treated with AZM+HCQ had a higher risk of in-hospital mortality compared to an untreated control group

-  From multinational registry of patients hospitalized between 12/20/19 and 4/14/20, individuals treated with AZM+HCQ had a higher risk of clinically significant ventricular arrhythmia compared to an untreated control group

Findings opposed to use of Azithromycin+Hydroxychloroquine as COVID-19 intervention

- In a French open-label non-randomized clinical trial, more patients treated with HCQ + AZM tested negative for COVID-19 by  day 6 after inclusion in study

- In vitro testing revealed synergistic effect of combined HCQ and AZM on SARS-CoV-2
-  A retrospective Detroit study using data from the Henry Ford Medical Group found that HCQ + AZM treatment was effective. However, this stipulates that the treatment is aggressive and giving patients dosages within 48 hr of patient admission as opposed to waiting.

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