Cheap steroids reduce risk of death in critically-ill coronavirus patients

Cheap and readily available steroids have been found to reduce the risk of death in critically ill coronavirus patients by 20 per cent, according to a study.

An international team of researchers analysed seven trials involving three differ - ent types of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids.

The study, which was coordinated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and analysed by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) at the University of Bristol, looked at patient mo rt ality over a 28- day period after treatment.

It found that treatment with one of three types of corticosteroid led to an estimated 20 per cent reduction in the risk of death.

Researchers said it was equivalent to about 68 per cent of critically ill patients surviving after treatment with the steroids, compared to approximately 60 per cent surviving without them.

The results of the study, which involved the drugs dexamethasone, hydrocortisone and methyl pr ed ni solo ne, were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Prof Jonathan Sterne, at the University of Bristol, said: “Steroids are a cheap and readily available medication, and our analysis has confirmed they are effective in reducing deaths amongst the most severely affected by Covid-19. The results were consistent across the trials and show benefit regardless of age or sex.”

He explained findings pointed to “eight fewer deaths for every a hundred critically ill patients assigned to corticosteroids”.

The seven control trials recruited 1,703 critically ill corona virus patients from 12 countries from February to June. The study in cluded patients who were taking part in the Oxford University- based Recovery trial, which used the drug dexamethasone. Patients were randomised to either receive one of the three drugs or a placebo.

Researchers said the mortality results were consistent across the seven trials, with dexamethasone and hydro - cortisone giving“similar effects”.

There were too few patients involved in tests of me thylp red ni solo ne to enable researchers to estimate its impact.

The study found the steroids benefited patients regardless of whether they were on a ventilator.

But researchers said it appeared to have a greater effect on those who did not require medication to support their blood pressure.