Sustained Hydroxychloroquine and Cardiovascular Outcomes Save

A national cohort study shows that continuous use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) protects agains cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

This National French Healthcare Database (population) study evaluated the potential association between hydroxychloroquine and the risk of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and other thromboembolic events (OTEs) in SLE patients. Controls were matched to patients with CV events by age, sex, time since SLE onset and entry into the database, prior antithrombotic and CV medication, chronic kidney disease, and hospitalization. 

Among the SLE cohort included 52 883 patients (mean age 44 years; 87% female; follow-up, 9 years), there were 1981 patients with CV outcomes (myocardial infarction, stroke, and other thromboembolic events) and 16 892 matched controls. In those with current HCQ exposure, the adjusted odds were lower for:

• Composite CV events (odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% CI, 0.57-0.69) 
• MI (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60-0.85)
• CVA (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.60-0.81)
• Other thromboembolic events (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.49-0.69) 

A population based study of SLE patients with SLE, a protective effects of maintenance hydroxychloroquine exposure with significantly fewer CV outcome and of myocardial infarction, stroke, and thromboembolic events. Yet the same benefits were not seen with remote unsustained) use of hydroxychloroquine.