Glucocorticoid Therapy for COVID-19 Critically Ill Patients With Severe Acute Respiratory Failure

COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was initially outbreak in Wuhan, China. Severe acute respiratory infection with COVID-19 causes severe acute respiratory failure with substantial mortality. Currently, the standard care is supportive care, and no treatment is proven to be effective for this condition.

Glucocorticoid therapy is widely used among critically ill patients with other coronavirus infection such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). However, whether glucocorticoid improved the outcome of COVID-19 remains unknown. We hypothesized that glucocorticoid would improve the prognosis of patietns with COVID-19.

In this study, critically ill patients with COVID-19 were enrolled and randomized to receive ether standard care or standard care in combination with methylprednisolone therapy. The primary outcome is the difference of Murray lung injury score between two groups.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult
• PCR confirmed COVID-19 infection
• Symptoms developed more than 7 days
• PaO2/FiO2 < 200 mmHg
• Positive pressure ventilation (non-invasive or invasive) or high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) higher than 45 L/min for less than 48 hours
• Requiring ICU admission

Exclusion criteria

• pregnancy;
• patients currently taking corticosteroids (cumulative 400 mg prednisone or equivalent);
• Severe underlying disease, i.e. end stage of malignancy disease or end stage of pulmonary disease;
• Severe adverse events before ICU admission, i.e. cardiac arrest;
• Underlying disease requiring corticosteroids;
• Contraindication for corticosteroids;
• Recruited in other clinical intervention trial