Thread by @Barton_options

1/ Science is often nuanced. Let's look at the hydroxychloroqine paper today. We can spin the data both ways.

academic.oup.com/cid/article/do…

2/ First, HCQ-is-a-hoax camp: no significant reduction in viral load in HCQ group vs control.

main problem with this statement: rtPCR is not highly accurate as a quantitative tool. even specimen collection introduces hugh variability.

3/ Also, remdesivir, dexamethasone were never considered effectively because they reduce PCR-measured viral-load. kind of an unfair treatment for HCQ.

4/ Note I don't talk about Zn/azithromycin here, because CQ/HCQ are the 2nd best antiviral (only behind remdesivir) in stand-alone in-vitro experiments. It should be able to show some efficacy if it is helpful.

5/ Next, for HCQ-is-the-magic-pill camp: HCQ reduces hospitalization by 17%! (7.1% to 5.9%)

Main issue: sample size is too small. hospitalization standard may or may not be uniform.

6/ HCQ reduces recovery time for 50% of people by 2 days!

Main issue: the definition of recovery is not really precise and leaves a lot of room of error to judge the efficacy.

7/ my conclusion: data is still inconclusive on how much help HCQ can deliver. But that's hardly surprising: if Remdesivir (a stronger anti-viral in in-vitro tests) has pretty underwhelming efficacy, expect even less from CQ/HCQ (esp. in light of their side effects)

8/ Actionable item: always helpful to 1) improve your immune status (vitamin D/exercise) & 2) lower your baseline inflammation (NAC, quercetin, curcumin)

not saying you need these everyday, but if I were exposed and started to have symptoms, those are still on my "PEP" regimen.