Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 21, 2025
An Educational Video Demonstration of How to Prone a Critically Ill Intubated Patient
Published on: November 30, 2022
Corticosteroid treatment has no effect on hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients
Filippo Albani1, Federica Fusina2, Enza Granato1
1Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, Via Bissolati, 57, 25124, Brescia, Italy.
Insights
Corticosteroid treatment did not impact hospital mortality for patients with COVID-19 after accounting for confounding factors. However, corticosteroid use was associated with reduced Intensive Care Unit admissions, potentially easing healthcare resource strain during the pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Corticosteroid use in COVID-19 treatment remains debated due to uncertain evidence.
- Understanding the impact of corticosteroids on mortality and resource utilization is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between corticosteroid therapy and hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients.
- To assess the effect of corticosteroids on Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission rates.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving 1,444 patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Propensity score matching (overlap weight) was used to balance confounders between corticosteroid-exposed and non-exposed groups.
Main Results:
- After balancing confounders, corticosteroid exposure was not associated with in-hospital mortality (adjusted p = 0.25).
- Patients receiving corticosteroids showed a significantly reduced risk of ICU admission (adjusted p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Corticosteroid treatment does not appear to affect hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients when adjusted for confounders.
- Corticosteroids may reduce ICU admissions, offering a potential benefit for managing healthcare resources during pandemics.
Abstract:
Since the start of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, corticosteroid use has been the subject of debate. The available evidence is uncertain, and knowledge on the subject is evolving. The aim of our cohort study was to evaluate the association between corticosteroid therapy and hospital mortality, in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 after balancing for possible confounders. One thousand four hundred forty four patients were admitted to our hospital with a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, 559 patients (39%) were exposed to corticosteroids during hospital stay, 844 (61%) were not exposed to corticosteroids. In the cohort of patients exposed to corticosteroids, 171 (30.6%) died. In the cohort of patients not exposed to corticosteroids, 183 (21.7%) died (unadjusted p < 0.001). Nonetheless, exposure to corticosteroids was not associated with in-hospital mortality after balancing with overlap weight propensity score (adjusted p = 0.25). Patients in the corticosteroids cohort had a reduced risk of ICU admission (adjusted p < 0.001). Treatment with corticosteroids did not affect hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 after balancing for confounders. A possible advantage of corticosteroid therapy was to reduce Intensive Care Unit admission, which could be useful in reducing pressure on Intensive Care Units in times of limited resources, as during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Related Concept Videos
01:26COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
01:21Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids
01:25Antiasthma Drugs: Inhaled Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoids
ICS work through a multifaceted mechanism of action. They suppress the inflammatory response caused by the proliferation of TH cells. They also reduce the transcription of the IL-2 gene, which is involved in the...
01:14Myocarditis III: Medical Management
01:17Pericarditis III: Medical Management
01:29Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents