DEXAMETHASONE IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH COVID-19

Glucocorticoids have been widely used in various infectious diseases, due to their important anti-inflammatory effect, but there lack powerful data supporting this treatment with potential side effects. Notwithstanding, dexamethasone proved to be beneficial on secondary end-points such as: shorter duration of hospitalisation (2 days vs. 13 days) and a greater chance of home discharge alive in the first 28 days (rate ratio: 1.10;95% CI, 1.03 to 1.17), successful weaning of invasive ventilation (rate ratio: 1.47;95% CI, 1.20 to 1.78), lower probability of renal-replacement treatment (risk ratio: 0.61;95% CI, 0.48 to 0.76). The RECOVERY trial offers evidences that sustain the usage of dexamethasone at a dose of 6 mg once daily for up to 10 days to reduce the 28-day mortality in COVID-19 subjects requiring respiratory support, with or without ventilatory support.