Objectives
In severe COVID-19 pneumonia, the appropriate timing and dosing of corticosteroids(CS) is not known. Patient subgroups for which CS could be more beneficial also need appraisal. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of early CS in COVID-19 pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU on the occurrence of 60-day mortality, ICU-acquired-bloodstream infections(ICU-BSI), and hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia(HAP-VAP).
Methods
We included patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to 11 ICUs belonging to the French OutcomeReaTM network from January to May 2020. We used survival models with ponderation with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Inflammation was defined as Ferritin >1000 µg/l or D-Dimers >1000 µg/l or C-Reactive Protein >100 mg/dL.
Results
The study population comprised 302 patients having a median age of 61.6(53-70) years of whom 78.8% were male and 58.6% had at least one comorbidity. The median SAPS II was 33(25-44). Invasive mechanical ventilation was required in 34.8% of the patients. Sixty-six (21.8%) patients were in the Early-CS-subgroup. Most of them (n=55, 83.3%) received high doses of steroids. Overall, 60-day mortality was 29.4%. The risks of 60-day mortality (IPTWHR =0.88;95% CI 0.55 to 1.39, p=0.58), ICU-BSI and HAP-VAP were similar in the two groups. Importantly, early CS treatment was associated with a lower mortality rate in patients aged 60 years or more (IPTWHR, 0.51;95% CI, 0.29 – 0.91; p=0.02). But, CS was associated with an increased risk of death for the patients younger than 60 years without inflammation on admission (IPTWHR =8.17;95% CI, 1.76, 37.85; p=0.01).
Conclusion
For patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, early CS treatment was not associated with patient survival. Interestingly, inflammation and age can significantly influence the effect of CS.

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This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
Additional file 1 Four figures: One showing the distribution of the patients according to the day they received their first dose of steroids – and three others to validate the propensity score. Five tables: Four showing the results of the sensitivity analyses, and one showing the characteristics of the patients depending on their subgroups.
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Posted 15 Mar, 2021
Posted 15 Mar, 2021
Objectives
In severe COVID-19 pneumonia, the appropriate timing and dosing of corticosteroids(CS) is not known. Patient subgroups for which CS could be more beneficial also need appraisal. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of early CS in COVID-19 pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU on the occurrence of 60-day mortality, ICU-acquired-bloodstream infections(ICU-BSI), and hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia(HAP-VAP).
Methods
We included patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to 11 ICUs belonging to the French OutcomeReaTM network from January to May 2020. We used survival models with ponderation with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Inflammation was defined as Ferritin >1000 µg/l or D-Dimers >1000 µg/l or C-Reactive Protein >100 mg/dL.
Results
The study population comprised 302 patients having a median age of 61.6(53-70) years of whom 78.8% were male and 58.6% had at least one comorbidity. The median SAPS II was 33(25-44). Invasive mechanical ventilation was required in 34.8% of the patients. Sixty-six (21.8%) patients were in the Early-CS-subgroup. Most of them (n=55, 83.3%) received high doses of steroids. Overall, 60-day mortality was 29.4%. The risks of 60-day mortality (IPTWHR =0.88;95% CI 0.55 to 1.39, p=0.58), ICU-BSI and HAP-VAP were similar in the two groups. Importantly, early CS treatment was associated with a lower mortality rate in patients aged 60 years or more (IPTWHR, 0.51;95% CI, 0.29 – 0.91; p=0.02). But, CS was associated with an increased risk of death for the patients younger than 60 years without inflammation on admission (IPTWHR =8.17;95% CI, 1.76, 37.85; p=0.01).
Conclusion
For patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, early CS treatment was not associated with patient survival. Interestingly, inflammation and age can significantly influence the effect of CS.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
Additional file 1 Four figures: One showing the distribution of the patients according to the day they received their first dose of steroids – and three others to validate the propensity score. Five tables: Four showing the results of the sensitivity analyses, and one showing the characteristics of the patients depending on their subgroups.
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