Steroids increase mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients who do not require oxygen!
A recent metanalysis study analyzed five randomized trials and one propensity-matched study involving 6,634 hospitalized Covid-19 patients not on oxygen therapy. It compared patients treated with glucocorticoids (3,704) to those receiving standard treatment (2,930). Results showed that glucocorticoid use significantly increased mortality in these patients, with a 14% mortality rate in the glucocorticoid group compared to 10% in the control group. The number needed to harm was 27, indicating that glucocorticoid use is likely harmful for hospitalized Covid-19 patients not receiving oxygen.