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Comparative Study
. 2021 Jul;65(6):834-845.
doi: 10.1111/aas.13795. Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Higher vs lower doses of dexamethasone in patients with COVID-19 and severe hypoxia (COVID STEROID 2) trial: Protocol and statistical analysis plan

Affiliations
Comparative Study

Higher vs lower doses of dexamethasone in patients with COVID-19 and severe hypoxia (COVID STEROID 2) trial: Protocol and statistical analysis plan

M W Munch et al. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in millions of deaths and overburdened healthcare systems worldwide. Systemic low-dose corticosteroids have proven clinical benefit in patients with severe COVID-19. Higher doses of corticosteroids are used in other inflammatory lung diseases and may offer additional clinical benefits in COVID-19. At present, the balance between benefits and harms of higher vs. lower doses of corticosteroids for patients with COVID-19 is unclear.

Methods: The COVID STEROID 2 trial is an investigator-initiated, international, parallel-grouped, blinded, centrally randomised and stratified clinical trial assessing higher (12 mg) vs. lower (6 mg) doses of dexamethasone for adults with COVID-19 and severe hypoxia. We plan to enrol 1,000 patients in Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and India. The primary outcome is days alive without life support (invasive mechanical ventilation, circulatory support or renal replacement therapy) at day 28. Secondary outcomes include serious adverse reactions at day 28; all-cause mortality at day 28, 90 and 180; days alive without life support at day 90; days alive and out of hospital at day 90; and health-related quality of life at day 180. The primary outcome will be analysed using the Kryger Jensen and Lange test adjusted for stratification variables and reported as adjusted mean differences and median differences. The full statistical analysis plan is outlined in this protocol.

Discussion: The COVID STEROID 2 trial will provide evidence on the optimal dosing of systemic corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with severe hypoxia with important implications for patients, their relatives and society.

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Conflict of interest statement

Anders Perner and the Department of Intensive Care at Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, has received grants for other research projects from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Pfizer. The Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Bern University Hospital (Inselspital), has or has had research & development/consulting contracts with Edwards Lifesciences Services GmbH, Phagenesis Limited and Nestlé. The money was paid into a departmental fund, and none of the authors received any financial gain. The Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Bern University Hospital (Inselspital), has received unrestricted educational grants from the following organisations for organising bi‐annual postgraduate courses in the fields of critical care ultrasound, management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and mechanical ventilation: Pierre Fabre Pharma AG (formerly known as RobaPharm), Pfizer AG, Bard Medica SA, Abbott AG, Anandic Medical Systems, PanGas AG Healthcare, Orion Pharma, Bracco, Edwards Lifesciences AG, Hamilton Medical AG, Fresenius Kabi (Switzerland) AG, Getinge Group Maquet AG, Dräger Schweiz AG, and Teleflex Medical GmbH. Balasubramanian Venkatesh has received institutional research support from Baxter. Thomas Benfield reports grants from Pfizer, grants from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, grants from Lundbeck Foundation, grants from Simonsen Foundation, grants and personal fees from GSK, grants and personal fees from Pfizer, personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, grants and personal fees from Gilead, personal fees from MSD, grants from Lundbeck Foundation, and grants from Kai Hansen Foundation outside the submitted work. Tine Sylvest Meyhoff is a co‐author of a Cochrane systematic review of supplemental perioperative corticosteroids for surgical patients with adrenal insufficiency (protocol stage). Charlotte Suppli Ulrik has received personal fees, grants and/or been on advisory boards for AstraZeneca, GSK, TEVA, Orion Pharma, Actelion, Boehringer Ingelheim, ALK‐Abello, Novartis and Mundipharma outside the present work. The remaining authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Dose preferences in corticosteroid use for COVID‐19 patients among 240 survey responders from Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and India. In the survey, all dose options were stated as equivalents of dexamethasone, betamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone and prednisone. COVID‐19, coronavirus disease 19; DXM, dexamethasone; mg, milligrams
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Preferences in comparisons for future trial in COVID‐19 patients among 237 responders from Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and India. Survey responders were able to tick one or more comparisons. COVID‐19, coronavirus disease 19, DXM, dexamethasone, mg, milligrams, HCT, hydrocortisone; PLB, placebo.

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