WHO Recommends Corticosteroids as Treatment for Patients with Severe and Critical COVID-19
The medicine called corticosteroids has received worldwide attention as a potentially effective treatment for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Thus, on Wednesday, September 2, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has published guidance for clinicians and health care decision-makers on the use of corticosteroids in COVID-19 patients.
Corticosteroids Recommended to Severe and Critical COVID-19
WHO recommended systemic corticosteroids for the treatment of patients with severe and critical COVID-19. However, they discouraged the use of corticosteroids as a treatment for patients with non-severe COVID-19.
“The panel made two recommendations: a strong recommendation for systemic corticosteroid therapy for 7 to 10 days in patients with severe and critical COVID-19, and a conditional recommendation not to use corticosteroid therapy in patients with nonsevere COVID-19.”
– WHO, Recommendation on Corticosteroids for COVID-19 Living Guidance, September 2, 2020
According to WHO, corticosteroids are listed in their model list of essential medicines and are already available globally at a low cost.
The World Health Organization has started working on the aforementioned guideline on June 22, 2020 when the RECOVERY trial published a preliminary report on the impact of corticosteroids.
Note however that there are still ongoing uncertainties and opportunities for future research about the use of systemic corticosteroids. The long-term effect of systemic corticosteroids on mortality and functional outcomes in COVID-19 survivors and the clinical effects of systemic corticosteroids in patients with non-severe COVID-19 are just some of the uncertainties that still need to be studied further.
For clinicians and health care decision-makers who would like to know more about the use of corticosteroids against COVID-19 for severe and critical COVID-19 patients, you may view WHO’s compete Corticosteroids for COVID-19 Living Guidance here.
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