The Uncertain Role of Corticosteroids in the Treatment of COVID-19

To the Editor We question the conclusion of Wu et al about the benefit of corticosteroid use in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued clinical guidance against the use of corticosteroids in the treatment of COVID-19 unless another indication is present, such as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation, or as adjunct treatment of septic shock. This guidance was made on the basis of systematic reviews of observational studies of corticosteroids that demonstrated an association with increased mortality and secondary infections in influenza and no benefit with possible harms in severe acute respiratory syndrome. A retrospective cohort study of Middle East respiratory syndrome showed that corticosteroids were associated with no difference in mortality and prolonged respiratory viral shedding.
Source: JAMA Internal Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Source Type: research