The debate is raging again. This time more than hundred scientists have questioned the authenticity of the much-hyped Lancet study.
After the Lancet report, the World Health Organisation(WHO) had decided to suspend HCQ trials. The study had said the drug increased the risk of death.
Now, The Lancet medical journal is itself concerned about the findings. Hydroxychloroquine was called a miracle drug and then a potential killer. What changed the verdict was The Lancet study. It claimed HCQ led to a higher risk of death and caused an irregular heartbeat.
Soon, the drug’s fame evaporated. The WHO suspended HCQ trials. Now, more than hundred scientists have questioned The Lancet study that called the drug dangerous. The Lancet medical journal has also alerted its readers.
It is like the retraction of an incorrectly made comment and now serious scientific questions have been raised.
Rightly put it’s an expression of concern. The journal is now commissioning an independent audit of the data but the scientists want the WHO to carry out the checks.
The Lancet study involved 96,000 COVID-19 patients spread across six continents. It involved patients from as many as 671 hospitals with 15,000 patients given doses of HCQ.
The study found patients were at a greater risk of dying. They were also at a higher risk of developing abnormal heart rhythm. Now the question is: what made scientists doubt The Lancet study?
The haste with which it was conducted analysing data, writing the paper and peer reviews — all completed in five weeks much faster than usual.
The authors have refused to identify any of the hospitals that contributed to patient data or name the countries where they were located.
A data scientist has even called the study fabrication of data. Moreover, one of the authors is also the founder of Surgisphere which is a Chicago-based medical data analytics company. The study entirely relied on the data provided by the firm. Now, the affiliation has come under the scanner.
The Lancet medical journal had to issue corrections after they got the death toll wrong. However, the WHO acted on this report and suspended the study on HCQ.
India strongly opposed the suspension of trials. The Indian council of medical research(ICMR) has consistently backed the use of HCQ.
ICMR studies have shown the positive effect of HCQ as a preventive drug. In a recent study, ICMR found that HCQ with personal protective equipment together cut COVID-19 risk by 80 per cent. Essentially, ICMR findings are contrary to The Lancet study. Studies in India found no side-effects other than nausea, vomiting and occasional palpitation.
The drug has been in use for nearly 100 years in various avatars. It is also used for some other diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and type-2 diabetes. The drug’s uses and dangers are well-known.
As ICMR said right dosage and monitoring should do the trick. but, let’s place our trust in the scientific community to tell us more.
