What this study adds
- The results show that randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that are
being planned to investigate the efficacy/effectiveness of HQ or
chloroquine include a heterogeneous set of clinical outcomes domains;
- The planned RCTs include insufficient and unstructured approaches to
detect adverse events that are relevant to patients and to inform
clinical practice;
- This study highlights three critical areas that can be improved to
better inform clinical and regulatory decisions about the value of HQ
or chloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19: selection of
efficacy/effectiveness outcomes, assessment of treatment harms and
patient safety, reducing missing and variable dosing schedules and
treatment duration.