Is anyone here saying that Dr. Risch's position is based on Trump's advocacy of the drug? That's not what I read in his article. Is anyone here equating him with a "kook with a white coat"?
As for "the highest quality studies", I suggest a better term is "the accepted study," as the systematic review that BC referenced seems to be based on a single accepted (that is, accepted by that set of authors) study as far as prophylaxis is concerned (and only 2 accepted studies overall).
Oh, that accepted study did NOT test the HCQ+Az combination that Dr. Risch is supporting (who emphasized "evidence for single agents cannot be extrapolated to apply to combined agents"). The study used only HCQ, not HCQ+Az. If Dr. Risch's emphasis is correct, I'd think that a well-designed RCT study that uses a different drug is not a good study of the drug. Indeed, when I looked back at the systematic review, it mixes studies of different drug combinations. Considering Dr. Risch emphasized the impropriety of extrapolation, I'd expect that he'd say this systematic review is fatally flawed.
When you or that review says "the drug doesn't work", one of your first questions should be "Which drug?".
That said, I don't know that HCQ+Az has been shown to be effective as a prophylactic after exposure (or before). (Dr. Risch also addresses safety.) I would say that HCQ study and the particular systematic review apparently don't answer the question.
As for "the highest quality studies", I suggest a better term is "the accepted study," as the systematic review that BC referenced seems to be based on a single accepted (that is, accepted by that set of authors) study as far as prophylaxis is concerned (and only 2 accepted studies overall).
Oh, that accepted study did NOT test the HCQ+Az combination that Dr. Risch is supporting (who emphasized "evidence for single agents cannot be extrapolated to apply to combined agents"). The study used only HCQ, not HCQ+Az. If Dr. Risch's emphasis is correct, I'd think that a well-designed RCT study that uses a different drug is not a good study of the drug. Indeed, when I looked back at the systematic review, it mixes studies of different drug combinations. Considering Dr. Risch emphasized the impropriety of extrapolation, I'd expect that he'd say this systematic review is fatally flawed.
When you or that review says "the drug doesn't work", one of your first questions should be "Which drug?".
That said, I don't know that HCQ+Az has been shown to be effective as a prophylactic after exposure (or before). (Dr. Risch also addresses safety.) I would say that HCQ study and the particular systematic review apparently don't answer the question.