Baseline characteristics of participants randomized to hydroxychloroquine or placebo (n = 148)
| Characteristic | No. (%) of participants* | |
|---|---|---|
| Hydroxychloroquine n = 111 | Placebo n = 37 | |
| Age at randomization, yr, mean ± SD | 46.7 ± 11.5 | 46.9 ± 11.0 |
| Sex, female | 46 (41.4) | 20 (54.1) |
| BMI, mean ± SD | 28.3 ± 7.3 | 29.0 ± 8.7 |
| Risk status† | ||
| Low | 41 (38.0) | 12 (32.4) |
| High | 67 (62.0) | 25 (67.6) |
| Common risk factors (present in > 10%) | ||
| Age ≥ 40 yr | 91 (82.0) | 29 (78.4) |
| Hypertension (receiving medical treatment) | 29 (26.1) | 12 (32.4) |
| Diabetes (taking a hypoglycemic or insulin) | 18 (16.2) | 11 (29.7) |
| Asthma (as per physician diagnosis) | 12 (10.8) | 8 (21.6) |
| Current cigarette smoker | 16 (14.4) | 5 (13.5) |
| Days from symptom onset to randomization,‡ median (IQR) | 7 (5–8) | 6 (6–9) |
| Symptoms of COVID-19 since onset‡ | ||
| Fever (≥ 37.5°C if measured) | 54 (49.1) | 20 (54.1) |
| Cough | 81 (73.6) | 31 (83.8) |
| Shortness of breath (dyspnea) | 27 (24.5) | 13 (35.1) |
| Chest tightness | 35 (31.8) | 10 (27.0) |
| Generally feeling unwell (malaise) | 72 (65.5) | 28 (75.7) |
| Sore throat | 49 (44.5) | 20 (54.1) |
| Muscle aches or pains (myalgias) | 59 (53.6) | 26 (70.3) |
| Head cold or runny nose (coryza) | 58 (52.7) | 25 (67.6) |
| Decreased sense of taste or smell (dysgeusia) | 60 (54.5) | 29 (78.4) |
| Nausea | 39 (35.5) | 8 (21.6) |
| Diarrhea | 35 (31.8) | 20 (54.1) |
| Provincial health zone | ||
| North Zone | 1 (0.9) | 0 |
| Edmonton Zone | 4 (3.6) | 0 |
| Central Zone | 1 (0.9) | 0 |
| Calgary Zone | 84 (75.7) | 35 (94.6) |
| South Zone | 21 (18.9) | 2 (5.4) |
| Reported race/ethnicity§ | ||
| White | 36 (32.4) | 15 (41.7) |
| Black | 12 (10.8) | 0 |
| Asian | 53 (47.7) | 19 (52.8) |
| Other | 10 (9.0) | 2 (5.6) |
Note: BMI = body mass index, IQR = interquartile range, SD = standard deviation
↵* Unless stated otherwise.
↵† Risk status missing for 3 participants in the hydroxychloroquine group (no risk factors). Low risk defined as age 40–64 with no other risk factors. High risk defined as age 18–64 with another risk factor, or age ≥ 65 regardless of other risk factors.
↵‡ Excludes 1 participant in the hydroxychloroquine group who was asymptomatic.
↵§ Missing for 1 participant in the placebo group.