Citation

Papazisis G, Siafis S, Cepatyte D, Giannis D, Stamoula E, Tzachanis D, Egberts T. Eur. Rev. Med. Pharmacol. Sci. 2021; 25(19): 6003-6012.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Verduci)

DOI

10.26355/eurrev_202110_26878

PMID

34661260

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to identify potential safety signals of chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), over the period preceding their repurpose as COVID-19 treatment options, through the analysis of safety data retrieved from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) pharmacovigilance database.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a disproportionality analysis of FAERS data between the first quarter of 2004 and December 2019 using the OpenVigil2.1-MedDRA software. Disproportionality was quantified using the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and its 95% confidence interval (CIs). The reported mortality of CQ and HCQ was also investigated.
RESULTS: The dataset contained 6,635,356 reports. Comparison of the RORs revealed significant differences between CQ and HCQ for the following adverse events: cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmias, retinal disorders, corneal disorders, hearing disorders, headache, hepatic disorders, severe cutaneous reactions, musculoskeletal disorders, and cytopenia. Only CQ was associated with psychotic disorders, suicide, self-injury, convulsions, peripheral neuropathy, and decreased appetite. In multivariable logistic regression, death was more frequently associated with CQ use, advanced age, male sex, co-reported suicide and self-injury, cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmias, and decreased appetite.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm previously published evidence and suggest that HCQ has a safer clinical profile compared to CQ, and thus could serve as the drug of choice for future therapeutic purposes.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; United States; Male; Middle Aged; Suicide; Odds Ratio; Confidence Intervals; Databases, Factual; Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; United States Food and Drug Administration; Pharmacovigilance; Chloroquine; Hydroxychloroquine; COVID-19 Drug Treatment