Hydroxychloroquine rated top drug by doctors on front line of COVID-19 who also fear a second wave

Hydroxychloroquine is rated the top drug among doctors on the front line of treating and preventing COVID-19 and who fear a second wave, according to a new report compiled from data from 6,200 physicians in 30 countries.

The report by Sermo — among the largest healthcare data collection service/global social platforms for physicians — compiles data on experimental drugs used in the fight against the pandemic.  

The report found that 37% of all COVID-19 treaters chose hydroxychloroquine as the most effective therapy from a list of 15 options.

By country, the numbers are 75% in Spain, 53% in Italy, 44% in China, 43% in Brazil, 29% in France, 23% in the U.S. and 13% in the U.K., according to the report. 

The report also found the two most common treatment regimens for hydroxychloroquine were:

• (38%) 400mg twice daily on day one; 400 mg daily for five day
• (26%) 400mg twice daily on day one; 200mg twice daily for four days

Outside the United States, hydroxychloroquine was equally used for diagnosed patients with mild to severe symptoms, whereas in the U.S. it was most commonly used for high-risk diagnosed patients, according to the report.

Globally, 19% of physicians prescribed or have seen hydroxychloroquine prophylactically used for high-risk patients, and 8% for low-risk patients, the report also found.