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Meta-Analysis
. 2020 Dec 14;24(1):696.
doi: 10.1186/s13054-020-03400-9.

Corticosteroid use in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis on clinical outcomes

Judith van Paassen  1 , Jeroen S Vos  1 , Eva M Hoekstra  2 , Katinka M I Neumann  2 , Pauline C Boot  2 , Sesmu M Arbous  3   4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Corticosteroid use in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis on clinical outcomes

Judith van Paassen et al. Crit Care. .

Abstract

Background: In the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there has been worldwide debate on the use of corticosteroids in COVID-19. In the recent RECOVERY trial, evaluating the effect of dexamethasone, a reduced 28-day mortality in patients requiring oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation was shown. Their results have led to considering amendments in guidelines or actually already recommending corticosteroids in COVID-19. However, the effectiveness and safety of corticosteroids still remain uncertain, and reliable data to further shed light on the benefit and harm are needed.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of corticosteroids in COVID-19.

Methods: A systematic literature search of RCTS and observational studies on adult patients was performed across Medline/PubMed, Embase and Web of Science from December 1, 2019, until October 1, 2020, according to the PRISMA guidelines. Primary outcomes were short-term mortality and viral clearance (based on RT-PCR in respiratory specimens). Secondary outcomes were: need for mechanical ventilation, need for other oxygen therapy, length of hospital stay and secondary infections.

Results: Forty-four studies were included, covering 20.197 patients. In twenty-two studies, the effect of corticosteroid use on mortality was quantified. The overall pooled estimate (observational studies and RCTs) showed a significant reduced mortality in the corticosteroid group (OR 0.72 (95%CI 0.57-0.87). Furthermore, viral clearance time ranged from 10 to 29 days in the corticosteroid group and from 8 to 24 days in the standard of care group. Fourteen studies reported a positive effect of corticosteroids on need for and duration of mechanical ventilation. A trend toward more infections and antibiotic use was present.

Conclusions: Our findings from both observational studies and RCTs confirm a beneficial effect of corticosteroids on short-term mortality and a reduction in need for mechanical ventilation. And although data in the studies were too sparse to draw any firm conclusions, there might be a signal of delayed viral clearance and an increase in secondary infections.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Corticosteroids; Mechanical ventilation; Mortality; SARS-CoV-2; Viral clearance.

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Conflict of interest statement

All persons who meet authorship criteria are listed as authors. The manuscript has been seen and approved by all authors. On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

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Flowchart article selection.docx
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effect of corticosteroids on mortality
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Fig. 3
Effect of corticosteroids on need for mechanical ventilation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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