COVID-19 and non-COVID ARDS patients demonstrate a distinct response to low dose steroids- A retrospective observational study

J Crit Care. 2021 Apr:62:46-48. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2020.11.012. Epub 2020 Nov 21.

Abstract

Patients with COVID-19 ARDS have distinct physiological and immunological phenotypes compared to patients with non-COVID ARDS. Patients with COVID-19 ARDS (n = 32) had a significant improvement in PaO2: FiO2 ratio (p = 0.046) following low-dose steroid treatment, unlike patients with non-COVID ARDS (n = 16) (p = 0.529). Patients with COVID-19 ARDS had a greater fall in CRP compared to patients with non-COVID ARDS, albeit not statistically significant (p = 0.07). Our novel findings highlight differences in the underlying physiological and immunological phenotypes between COVID-19 and non-COVID ARDS, with implications for future ARDS studies.

Keywords: ARDS; COVID-19; Inflammation; Steroids.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • C-Reactive Protein / drug effects
  • COVID-19 / physiopathology*
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / therapeutic use
  • London / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Phenotype
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Respiratory Mechanics
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Steroids / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Steroids
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Methylprednisolone