An overseas study found that prescribing steroids to patients hospitalized for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) could cut the risk of death by half. Inflammation in discharged COVID-19 patients increases the risk of death, because steroids lower it.
The research team argued, “The prescription of steroids for COVID-19 patients who are discharged from the hospital in the future should be included in the standard treatment.”
According to the industry on the 16th, the University of Florida in the US recently published the results of a study on the school website saying ‘Steroids can reduce the risk of death in patients who have recovered from long-term Corona 19 sequelae (long covid)’ on the 12th in the international academic journal Frontiers in Medicine. (Frontiers in Medicine).
Archie Minus, a professor of family medicine at the University of Florida, who conducted this study, found that hospitalized patients who had severe COVID-19 in December last year were more than twice as likely to die the following year than those with mild or moderate cases who did not go to the hospital even after they recovered. The research results have been published.
At that time, the C-reactive protein (CRP) level of the COVID-19 patients hospitalized by the research team was closely related to the severity of the disease.
The research team followed up 1,207 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 for one year after discharge. % higher.
The inpatient CRP level was 59.4 mg/L, while the CRP level for patients requiring additional non-mechanical oxygen, such as a ventilator, was 126.9 mg/L, and the CRP level for patients wearing a ventilator or a cardiopulmonary respirator such as ECMO was 201.2 mg/L. it was
The research team re-analyzed the 1,207 patients. The results showed that patients who were prescribed anti-inflammatory steroids after hospitalization had a 51% reduction in the risk of death from any cause, including severe inflammation.
The research team explained, “Inflammation in a patient while hospitalized for COVID-19 can be an indicator that can predict health risks after discharge, such as death from long-term sequelae.”
Professor Myers explained, “Most inflammation is concentrated at the site of infection or in a specific area. However, COVID-19 causes inflammation in many organs, including the heart, brain, and kidneys, in addition to the airways.”
The research team suggested that COVID-19 should be managed as a potential chronic disease.
Professor Minus said, “It should be managed like chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure and diabetes that continue to affect patients even after the onset of symptoms. .
Inflammation occurs when the immune system fights off an infectious agent. In some diseases, including COVID-19, this immune response goes too far, causing more damage. For example, some COVID-19 patients develop a cytokine storm, a dangerous inflammatory disease that can lead to death.
Kim Beom-seong, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Konkuk University Hospital, said, “Steroids only temporarily reduce the immune response, but unlike antibiotics or antiviral drugs, they do not fundamentally cure diseases.” He added, “However, if a strong inflammatory reaction is present, such as a cytokine storm, it is often prescribed to severely ill patients to reduce it.”
[Queen 김정현 기자]
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