Hydroxychloroquine vs. Azithromycin for Hospitalized Patients With Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19

Hydroxychloroquine vs. Azithromycin for Hospitalized Patients With Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 (HAHPS): A Prospective Pragmatic Trial

This study will compare two drugs (hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin) to see if hydroxychloroquine is better than azithromycin in treating hospitalized patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult (age ≥ 18 years)

• Confirmed OR suspected COVID-19,

  • Confirmed: Positive assay for COVID-19 within the last 10 days
  • Suspected: Pending assay for COVID-19 WITH high clinical suspicion

• Scheduled for admission or already admitted to an inpatient bed

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergy to hydroxychloroquine or azithromycin
• History of bone marrow transplant
• Known G6PD deficiency
• Chronic hemodialysis or Glomerular Filtration Rate < 20ml/min
• Psoriasis
• Porphyria
• Concomitant use of digitalis, flecainide, amiodarone, procainamide, propafenone, cimetidine, dofetilide, phenobarbital, phenytoin, or sotalol
• Known history of long QT syndrome
• Current known QTc>500 msec
• Pregnant or nursing
• Prisoner
• Weight < 35kg
• Seizure disorder
• Severe liver disease
• Outpatient use of hydroxychloroquine for treatment of a disease other than COVID-19 OR has received more than 2 days of hydroxychloroquine or azithromycin for suspected or confirmed COVID-19
• Patient has recovered from COVID-19 and/or is being discharged from the hospital on day of enrollment.
• Treating physician refuses to allow patient participation in the study
• Unable to obtain informed consent
• Prior enrollment in this study