ArticlePloS one2024
Associations between corticosteroid dosage and clinical outcomes in patients with hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia: A retrospective cohort study.
Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Osteonecrosis of the femoral head in post-COVID-19 patients: a retrospective comparative study.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Article
- Carbon monoxide potentiates the effect of corticosteroids in suppressing inflammatory responses in cell culture.Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry · 2025Article
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4 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundCorticosteroids are commonly used to treat COVID-19 patients with hypoxemia, and clinicians have adjusted the corticosteroid intensity on the basis of clinical needs. However, neither the optimal dose nor the duration of treatment has been recommended.
objectiveTo investigate whether cumulative doses of corticosteroids, measured as dexamethasone-equivalent doses over the first 14 days, impact outcomes in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
methodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 pneumonia patients admitted between April 1st, 2020, and September 30th, 2021. The study focused on the type and dose of corticosteroid administered during the initial 14 days, clinical outcomes, and complications. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.
resultsAmong 271 patients, the mean cumulative dexamethasone-equivalent dose was 158 (119.9-197.25) mg in survivors and 185 (131.7-222.0) mg in nonsurvivors. Univariate analysis revealed that the cumulative dexamethasone-equivalent dose was a risk factor for in-hospital mortality. However, this association did not hold true in the multivariate analysis. After the cumulative dexamethasone-equivalent dose was categorized into quartiles, the moderate dosage (126.01-165.00 mg) in the second quartile was found to be associated with the lowest in-hospital mortality (16.2%). Higher cumulative dexamethasone-equivalent doses were associated with longer hospital and ICU stays and fewer ventilator-free days (p < 0.001). Doses exceeding 165 mg were associated with an increased risk of hospital-acquired infections (p < 0.001).
conclusionsThe cumulative dexamethasone-equivalent dose during the first 14 days is not associated with in-hospital mortality in hypoxemic COVID-19 patients. However, higher cumulative doses exceeding 165 mg are associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality and secondary hospital-acquired infections.
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