Steroid initiation timing and outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 patients: A multicenter, retrospective, observational study

Conclusion: The analysis included 3692 patients (men, 64.1%; median age, 68 years). Unadjusted comparisons of mortality groups showed significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics; patients with early dexamethasone initiation had more risk factors for severe disease and significantly higher mortality than did patients with delayed initiation (13.3% vs 7.9%, p < .001). No significant differences were found in intubation rates or duration, length of hospitalization, or time from intubation to death. Multivariate analyses showed significant differences from symptom onset to steroid administration, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.7 (p = .05) for patients who received steroids for ≥8 days. Early steroid administration to COVID-19 patients was associated with increased mortality, suggesting a subset with early severe disease and high mortality and/or adverse effects of early steroid administration.PMID:37975809 | PMC:PMC10656795 | DOI:10.1177/03946320231216314
Source: International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research