Outcomes of Steroid and Pulse Steroid Therapies in COVID-19 Inpatients Requiring Oxygen Therapy, Retrospective Case Control Study

Authors : Zeynep Irmak Kaya, Serdar Efe

Pages : 47-53

Doi:10.56016/dahudermj.1582147

View : 52 | Download : 67

Publication Date : 2025-04-29

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Background: A limited number of studies have been conducted examining the course of the disease and the effectiveness of corticosteroid treatments in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen support. This study assessed steroid effectiveness in oxygen-dependent COVID-19 patients. Methods: Included in the study were 670 patients who required oxygen support during their hospital stay among the 6,532 Covid-19 patients between 1 August 2020 and 1 June 2021. Demographic data, comorbidities, duration of oxygen therapy, length of hospital stay, corticosteroid treatments (dexamethasone, methylprednisolone) and pulse corticosteroid treatments (methylprednisolone ≥ 250 mg) were recorded. We analyzed data using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Program (Version 16.0. Chicago, SPSS) and applied Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Chi-square tests for statistical significance (p<0.05). Results: The mean age of the patients was 64±13 (19–95) years, 55% were male, and the mean duration of hospital stay was 9±6 (1–64) days. Dexamethasone, pulse steroids, and low-dose methylprednisolone (<80 mg) were given to 41%, 13%, and 18% of patients, respectively. 31.6% required ICU admission, and the overall hospital mortality rate was 18.1%. Notably, 83% of deaths occurred within the first week. Conclusion: Most deaths in oxygen-dependent COVID-19 patients happened within 7 days. While corticosteroids didn’t impact overall mortality, dexamethasone seemed to boost discharge without ICU admission.
Keywords : COVID-19, dexamethasone, mortality, oxygen therapy, pulse corticosteroid therapy

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