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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05403359

StEroids in hospitaLized patiEnts With Covid-19 in The Netherlands.

Rationale: In patients with COVID-19 admitted to the hospital, large heterogeneity exists in patients, timing and dosing of steroid therapy. It is unclear how to treat patients who fail dexamethasone therapy. High-dose steroids are prescribed mainly in patients with the most severe disease, which may be too late given the potential escalation of pathophysiological pathways in these patients.

Objectives: The main objective is to determine the most optimal form, timing and dosing of steroid therapy to reduce the morbidity and mortality of patients admitted to the hospital for COVID-19. This objective will be addressed in 4 work packages (WP):

* WP-1A-ward admission: What is the effect of higher dose steroids upon hospital admission on clinical deterioration and what would be the optimal timing of increasing steroid dosage? * WP1B-ward late: Do high-dose steroids, compared to no steroids, improve outcomes in dexamethasone-unresponsive COVID-19 patients on the ward after dexamethasone 6 mg/day for 10 days? * WP2-ICU admission: Do high-dose steroids, compared to 6 mg/day dexamethasone or its equivalent, improve outcomes in patients admitted to the ICU with moderate/severe C-ARDS? * WP3-ICU late: Do high-dose steroids, compared to no steroids, improve outcomes in ICU patients with moderate/severe C-ARDS after dexamethasone 6 mg/day for 10 days? * WP4-biobank: Can biomarkers help predict outcomes after (high dosed) steroid therapy? Study design: Retrospective observational multicenter study in the Netherlands.

Study population: Adult patients (≥ 18 years) hospitalized with COVID-19 will be included, more specifically:

Intervention (if applicable): Not applicable (retrospective study design).

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Given the retrospective nature of the study, no burden, risks or benefits for the patient are associated with participation. The target population of this study is specific to hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

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Key information

Conditions

COVID-19 Coronaviridae Infections Coronavirus Infections Infections Lung Diseases Nidovirales Infections Pneumonia Pneumonia, Viral RNA Virus Infections Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Virus Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Erasmus MC

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

To be eligible for inclusion in any of the work packages, an individual must meet all of the following general inclusion criteria:

  • Adult (i.e., ≥18 years)
  • Hospitalized (i.e., admitted to the hospital)
  • Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis (i.e., based on polymerase chain reaction-(PCR) test)

WP1A- ward early:

(1) Patients who present with WHO clinical progression scale class 4-5 (no oxygen therapy, Figure 5) when admitted to the ward with COVID-19.

WP1B-ward late:

  • Admitted to the ward (e.g., pulmonology ward, COVID-unit, etc.), excluding step-down units.
  • In need of non-invasive oxygen therapy during hospital stay, including:
  • Conventional oxygen therapy (COT) 1-5 L/min
  • Conventional oxygen therapy (COT) 6-12 L/min
  • Non-rebreather mask 12-15 L/min
  • High-flow nasal cannula 16-60 L/min
  • Non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
  • Non-invasive bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP)

WP2-ICU admission/ WP3-ICU late:

  • Admitted to the ICU>48 hours.*
  • Invasive mechanical ventilation during ICU stay (intubation with endotracheal tube or tracheostomy) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
  • ARDS according to the Berlin criteria

WP4-biobank:

The study population consists of patient subsets admitted to the ICU described in WP2 and WP3.

Exclusion criteria

General exclusion criteria:

  • Mortality within 48 hours.*
  • Opt-out (objection to participate)

Criteria indicated with an asterisk (*) may or may not be applied, depending on data availability. These criteria will be instated if they result in excessive variation of the outcome or exposure, or result in difficulty in generalizing to the target population.

Treatment and study plan

Steroids

Drug

Description of the intervention in each of the work packages:

  • WP1A admission: Steroid dose >6mg/day dexamethasone equivalent will be compared to control (steroid = 6mg/day dexamethasone or equivalent steroid).
  • WP1B late: After 10 days of dexamethasone therapy patients are stratified in high-dose steroids (> 6 mg dexamethasone or equivalent steroid) or no steroids up to day 28.
  • WP2 ICU admission: High-dose steroids (dexamethasone >6 mg daily or equivalent corticosteroids) compared to dexamethasone 6 mg up to 72 hours after admission
  • WP3 ICU late: After dexamethasone 6 mg for 10 days patients are stratified in high-dose steroids (dexamethasone >6 mg daily or equivalent corticosteroids) or no steroids up to day 28.

Primary outcomes

  1. 28-day survival (WP2-3)

    Time frame: Day 28

    Alive at day 28 yes/no

  2. 28-day need of invasive mechanical ventilation (WP2-3)

    Time frame: Day 28

    Need for mechanical ventilation at day 28 yes/no

  3. Need for WHO severity 6-9 (WP1)

    Time frame: From date of hospital admission up to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 12 months

    WHO clinical progression scale class 6: high flow nasal cannula WHO class 7-9: invasive ventilation

  4. Hospital mortality in patients who receive HFNC or invasive mechanical ventilation due to restrictions in care (WP1)

    Time frame: From date of hospital admission up to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 12 months

    Restrictions in care (either on medical grounds or by advance directive of the patient)

Secondary outcomes

  1. ICU mortality

    Time frame: During ICU stay

    Death at ICU including date

  2. Hospital mortality

    Time frame: From date of hospital admission up to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 12 months

    In-hospital death including date

  3. Hospital length of stay

    Time frame: From date of hospital admission up to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 12 months

    The number of days from the date of hospital admission to date of hospital discharge or death

  4. ICU length of stay

    Time frame: During ICU stay

    The number of days from the date of ICU admission to date of ICU discharge or death

  5. Mechanical ventilation duration

    Time frame: During ICU stay

    Total duration of mechanical ventilation in days

  6. Ventilator free days and alive

    Time frame: Day 28

    Number of ventilator free days at day 28

  7. Rate of respiratory and inflammatory complications during hospital stay

    Time frame: From date of hospital admission up to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 12 months

    Aspergillus, Herpes simplex virus (HSV),Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI)

  8. Rate of general systemic complications during hospital stay

    Time frame: From date of hospital admission up to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 12 months

    Myocardial infarction, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, acute kidney injury, delirium, sepsis

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Henrik Endeman

Other

Collaborators

  • Academisch Ziekenhuis Groningen
  • Amphia Hospital
  • Amsterdam UMC
  • Isala
  • Maasstad Hospital
  • OLVG
  • St. Antonius Hospital

Registry information

Official study title

Optimal Dosing and Timing of Corticosteroids in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19.

Acronym: SELECT

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Jun 3, 2022
Registry last updated
Apr 9, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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