Optimal dosing and timing of steroids in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

Patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 often have an excessive inflammatory response. The use of the anti-inflammatory corticosteroid dexamethasone is therefore the cornerstone of the treatment of these patients. Unfortunately, there remains a group of patients who do not respond sufficiently to this treatment. Goal The aim of this study is to investigate whether patients with an insufficient response to standard anti-inflammatory treatment benefit from a higher dose, and what is the right time to administer this increased dose. Research design This project is a collaboration between a number of hospitals in the Netherlands, where there are local differences between the time of administration and dosage when it comes to steroid treatment. By merging data from a large number of patients and mapping existing practice variation and examining treatment outcomes, the researchers hope to gain more insight into the correct dosage and timing of steroid administration in the treatment of COVID-19. In addition, it will also be examined whether there are certain laboratory markers in the blood or in the lungs of the patients that predict which patients will benefit from a high dose of steroids.