The RECOVERY (Randomized Evaluation of COVid-19 thERapY) trial was established as a randomized clinical trial to test several potential treatments for COVID-19, including low-dose dexamethasone (a a cheap and widely available steroid treatment).
The study enrolled 2,100 participants who received dexamethasone at a low or moderate dose compared to compared how they fared against about 4,300 people who received other standard care for coronavirus infection.
The most significant and striking effect of dexamethasone was among critically ill patients who were on ventilators. Death in these patients were cut down by about one-third. Patients who were receiving oxygen therapy but were not on ventilators also saw improvement: their risk of dying was reduced by 20%. The steroid had no effect on people with milder form of the of COVID-19, patients not requiring oxygen therapy.
Lot of clinicians and practitioners are likely using steroids if not dexamethasone specifically in the ICU for critically ill, COVID-19 patients. Although, a potentially major breakthrough, the study results need to be published in a peer reviewed journal before it can be widely acceptable.
The results were announced via a press release June 16, 2020.
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