A quasi-experimental study by researchers from Sri Guru Ram Dass Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar, noted reduction in intensive care unit (ICU) stay and mortality among COVID-19 patients treated with dexamethasone. 

The study was conducted to assess the role of dexamethasone on mortality, oxygen support based on either high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO)/non-invasive ventilation (NIV), and need for invasive mechanical ventilation during hospitalization in critically ill COVID-19 patients. In all, 79 patients were included in the study. Forty patients were receiving the drug and formed Group B while the remaining 39 were receiving standard care and were part of Group A. The cumulative survival rate of patients on dexamethasone was 97.5% compared to 87.2% participants in Group A. Among those who needed low flow oxygen, cumulative survival incidence was 100% in both the study groups. The time of recovery and discharge were lower in Group B. The findings have been published in Anesthesia Essays and Researches… (ET Healthworld – TNN, November 7, 2021)