Optimal Dosing and Timing of Corticosteroids in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19.
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 2,465
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- 28-day survival (WP2-3)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Rationale: In patients with COVID-19 admitted to the hospital, large heterogeneity exists in patients, timing and dosing of steroid therapy. It is unclear how to treat patients who fail dexamethasone therapy. High-dose steroids are prescribed mainly in patients with the most severe disease, which may be too late given the potential escalation of pathophysiological pathways in these patients.
Objectives: The main objective is to determine the most optimal form, timing and dosing of steroid therapy to reduce the morbidity and mortality of patients admitted to the hospital for COVID-19. This objective will be addressed in 4 work packages (WP):
- WP-1A-ward admission: What is the effect of higher dose steroids upon hospital admission on clinical deterioration and what would be the optimal timing of increasing steroid dosage?
- WP1B-ward late: Do high-dose steroids, compared to no steroids, improve outcomes in dexamethasone-unresponsive COVID-19 patients on the ward after dexamethasone 6 mg/day for 10 days?
- WP2-ICU admission: Do high-dose steroids, compared to 6 mg/day dexamethasone or its equivalent, improve outcomes in patients admitted to the ICU with moderate/severe C-ARDS?
- WP3-ICU late: Do high-dose steroids, compared to no steroids, improve outcomes in ICU patients with moderate/severe C-ARDS after dexamethasone 6 mg/day for 10 days?
- WP4-biobank: Can biomarkers help predict outcomes after (high dosed) steroid therapy? Study design: Retrospective observational multicenter study in the Netherlands.
Study population: Adult patients (≥ 18 years) hospitalized with COVID-19 will be included, more specifically:
Intervention (if applicable): Not applicable (retrospective study design).
Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Given the retrospective nature of the study, no burden, risks or benefits for the patient are associated with participation. The target population of this study is specific to hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Observational
- Observational Model
- Cohort
- Time Perspective
- Retrospective
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •To be eligible for inclusion in any of the work packages, an individual must meet all of the following general inclusion criteria:
- •Adult (i.e., ≥18 years)
- •Hospitalized (i.e., admitted to the hospital)
- •Laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis (i.e., based on polymerase chain reaction-(PCR) test)
- •WP1A- ward early:
- •(1) Patients who present with WHO clinical progression scale class 4-5 (no oxygen therapy, Figure 5) when admitted to the ward with COVID-
- •WP1B-ward late:
- •Admitted to the ward (e.g., pulmonology ward, COVID-unit, etc.), excluding step-down units.
- •In need of non-invasive oxygen therapy during hospital stay, including:
- •Conventional oxygen therapy (COT) 1-5 L/min
- •Conventional oxygen therapy (COT) 6-12 L/min
- •Non-rebreather mask 12-15 L/min
- •High-flow nasal cannula 16-60 L/min
- •Non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
- •Non-invasive bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP)
- •WP2-ICU admission/ WP3-ICU late:
- •Admitted to the ICU>48 hours.*
- •Invasive mechanical ventilation during ICU stay (intubation with endotracheal tube or tracheostomy) or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
- •ARDS according to the Berlin criteria
- •WP4-biobank:
- •The study population consists of patient subsets admitted to the ICU described in WP2 and WP3.
Exclusion Criteria
- •General exclusion criteria:
- •Mortality within 48 hours.*
- •Opt-out (objection to participate)
- •Criteria indicated with an asterisk (*) may or may not be applied, depending on data availability. These criteria will be instated if they result in excessive variation of the outcome or exposure, or result in difficulty in generalizing to the target population.
Arms & Interventions
Ward (e.g., pulmonology ward, COVID-unit, etc.),
- WP1A: Patients with WHO clinical progression scale class 4-5 (i.e., no oxygen therapy) admitted to the ward with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.
- WP1B: Adult patients admitted to the ward with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and on at least oxygen therapy.
Intervention: Steroids (Drug)
Intensive Care Unit
Adult patients (≥18 years) admitted to the ICU with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) according to the Berlin definition criteria (i.e., receiving invasive mechanical ventilation).
Intervention: Steroids (Drug)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
28-day survival (WP2-3)
Time Frame: Day 28
Alive at day 28 yes/no
Hospital mortality in patients who receive HFNC or invasive mechanical ventilation due to restrictions in care (WP1)
Time Frame: From date of hospital admission up to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 12 months
Restrictions in care (either on medical grounds or by advance directive of the patient)
28-day need of invasive mechanical ventilation (WP2-3)
Time Frame: Day 28
Need for mechanical ventilation at day 28 yes/no
Need for WHO severity 6-9 (WP1)
Time Frame: From date of hospital admission up to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 12 months
WHO clinical progression scale class 6: high flow nasal cannula WHO class 7-9: invasive ventilation
Secondary Outcomes
- ICU length of stay(During ICU stay)
- Mechanical ventilation duration(During ICU stay)
- Ventilator free days and alive(Day 28)
- Hospital mortality(From date of hospital admission up to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 12 months)
- Rate of general systemic complications during hospital stay(From date of hospital admission up to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 12 months)
- ICU mortality(During ICU stay)
- Hospital length of stay(From date of hospital admission up to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 12 months)
- Rate of respiratory and inflammatory complications during hospital stay(From date of hospital admission up to date of hospital discharge, assessed up to 12 months)
Investigators
Henrik Endeman
Principal investigator
Erasmus Medical Center