Response

Could inhaled corticosteroids be the game changers in the prevention of severe COVID-19? A review of current evidence

“…59 Additionally, a recent meta-analysis 73 studies and 21,350 COVID-19 patients demonstrated a mortality benefit in severe COVID-19 (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.51-0.83; p = 0.0006). 60 However, a most recent systematic review of the Cochrane Database reported that the evidence on the beneficial effects of systemic corticosteroids on the survival of patients with COVID-19 is of moderate certainty, due to methodological limitations of studies. 61 Finally, a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the effect of corticosteroids in ARDS of any etiology (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19), analyzed data of 18 RCTs and 2,826 patients and showed that corticosteroids reduced mortality (RR 0.82), while a longer course of treatment was associated with higher survival rate compared to a shorter course.…”

“…69 Furthermore, a recent meta-analysis of 13 studies reported that the duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding was not influenced by treatment with low-dose systemic corticosteroids. 60 Thus, the effect of systemic corticosteroids in viral shedding in COVID-19 patients is currently controversial.…”