Low-dose corticosteroids followed by immunosuppression have been shown to significantly reduce mortality risk in COVID-19 patients with hypoxia. Now, researchers from the University of Oxford investigated whether simply increasing the corticosteroid dose, rather than adding other immunomodulators, could confer additional benefits. The clinical trial included clinically hypoxic, hospitalized COVID-19 patients on simple or no oxygen support.
They were randomized to take either usual care plus high-dose (20 mg dexamethasone) or low-dose (6 mg dexamethasone) corticosteroids. Among the higher dose group, 19% of patients died , 10% reported non-COVID pneumonia , and 22% reported hyperglycemia compared to 12%, 6%, and 14% of the low dose corticosteroid group, respectively. The findings showed that high-dose corticosteroids are associated with a higher risk of mortality compared to low doses…
