Coronavirus: keenly awaited dexamethasone trial results confirm life-saving benefits – and risks
- Almost 30 per cent reduction in death rate seen in patients on ventilators who were treated with drug
- However, the steroid could cause harm in patients if given too early, results show
The keenly awaited full results from a British trial of the steroid dexamethasone were published on Friday, confirming its life-saving benefits for Covid-19 patients on ventilators but suggesting it may cause harm if given too early.
A total of 2,104 hospitalised patients were assigned to receive six milligram daily doses of the medicine for up to 10 days, and 4,321 to receive usual care, with the rate of deaths compared after 28 days.
Among patients on ventilators, the rate of death for patients on the drug was 29.3 per cent compared to 41.4 per cent on those without.
In other words, this group saw a 29 per cent reduction in mortality, just under a third.
01:43
Steroid dexamethasone a life-saving treatment for very ill Covid-19 patients, UK study indicates
In patients who were given oxygen but through less invasive means, the benefit was smaller – 23.3 per cent on dexamethasone died versus 26.2 per cent who were not on it.