The World Health Organization (WHO) have approved the initial clinical trial results from University of Oxford, the United Kingdom (UK) that shows dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, might be a lifesaver for critically ill Covid-19 patients.

As per the preliminary findings shared with WHO, in patients who are on ventilators, the treatment showed a decreased mortality by approximately one third, and for patients who required only oxygen, the mortality was reduced by about one fifth.

The advantage of this medicine was seen only in patients critically ill with COVID-19, and was not seen in patients with milder disease. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said that it is the first treatment to be presented to reduce mortality in Covid-19 patients requiring oxygen or ventilator support.

Based on the trial’s results, one death could be prevented by treatment of about 8 ventilated patients or 25 patients requiring oxygen alone. The researchers are working to publish the full details soon due to public health importance. Peter Horby, one of the Chief Investigators for the trial said that the survival benefit is very clear and huge in critically ill patients who require oxygen treatment. Dexamethasone should become a standard treatment for these patients. Also, it is inexpensive and can be used immediately to worldwide to save lives. Peter Horby is also a Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at University of Oxford.

Dexamethasone is a steroid which is used since the 1960s. It reduces inflammation in various conditions that includes inflammatory disorders and certain cancers. It is listed on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines since 1977 in several formulations. It is currently off-patent and reasonably available in most countries.

The WHO said that it will organize a meta-analysis to escalate the overall understanding of this new intervention. The apex biomedical research body said that the WHO clinical management will be updated soon on how to reflect and when should the drug be used in COVID-19. The WHO stated that he would continue his work with all his partners in developing lifesaving therapeutics. It would also work towards developing vaccines to manage COVID-19 under the umbrella known as Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator.

In the meantime, Indian Doctors are successfully using methylprednisolone in the management of moderate to severe disease of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reduces the overall mortality and is an essential part of the treatment regimen reducing the severity of symptoms.

Dr Vikramjeet Singh, internal medicine specialist at Aakash healthcare said that steroids are effective in handling the COVID-19 infection as they reduce the complications and severity in critical patients. Dexamethasone would be a good option and is supported by a large trial and is also a cost-effective drug.

The recovery rate in India has climbed to 52.80%. In the last 24 hours, 6922 COVID-19 patients were recovered. A total of1,86,934 patients are cured and at present 1,55,227 active cases are under medical supervision, according to the union health ministry. The total number of COVID-19 cases in India has reached 355052 on Wednesday and the death toll has crossed 12000.

Source: live mint