The analysis - which pooled data from separate trials of low dose hydrocortisone, dexamethasone and methylprednisolone - found that steroids improve survival rates of COVID-19 patients sick enough to be in intensive care in hospital. "This is equivalent to around 68% of (the sickest COVID-19) patients surviving after treatment with corticosteroids, compared to around 60% surviving in the absence of corticosteroids," the researchers said in a statement. Dexamethasone has been in widespread use in intensive care wards treating COVID-19 patients in some countries since then. "Among critically ill patients with COVID-19, low-dose corticosteroids ... significantly reduce the risk of death." Until the June findings on dexamethasone, no effective treatment had been shown to reduce death rates in patients with COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Source: bd News24 September 02, 2020 12:56 UTC