Corticosteroid therapy for COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Medicine (Baltimore)
; 100(20): e25719, 2021 May 21.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1236278
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Corticosteroid treatment is an effective and common therapeutic strategy for various inflammatory lung pathologies and may be an effective treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis of current literature was to investigate the clinical outcomes associated with corticosteroid treatment of COVID-19.METHODS:
We systematically searched PubMed, medRxiv, Web of Science, and Scopus databases through March 10, 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of corticosteroid therapies for COVID-19 treatment. Outcomes of interest were mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, serious adverse events (SAEs), and superinfection.RESULTS:
A total of 7737 patients from 8 RCTs were included in the quantitative meta-analysis, of which 2795 (36.1%) patients received corticosteroids plus standard of care (SOC) while 4942 (63.9%) patients received placebo and/or SOC alone. The odds of mortality were significantly lower in patients that received corticosteroids as compared to SOC (odds ratio [OR]â=â0.85 [95% CI 0.76; 0.95], Pâ=â.003). Corticosteroid treatment reduced the odds of a need for mechanical ventilation as compared to SOC (ORâ=â0.76 [95% CI 0.59; 0.97], Pâ=â.030). There was no significant difference between the corticosteroid and SOC groups with regards to SAEs and superinfections.CONCLUSION:
Corticosteroid treatment can reduce the odds for mortality and the need for mechanical ventilation in severe COVID-19 patients.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
/
Reviews
/
Systematic review/Meta Analysis
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Medicine (Baltimore)
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
MD.0000000000025719
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS