Corticosteroid treatment and mortality in mechanically ventilated COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients: a multicentre cohort study

Annals of Intensive Care

Table 2 Description of corticosteroid use for COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome patients

	Corticosteroid group (n = 1117)
Type of corticosteroid
Methylprednisolone	856 (76.6%)
Dexamethasone	247 (22.1%)
Hydrocortisone	10 (0.9%)
Methylprednisolone plus hydrocortisone	2 (0.2%)
Methylprednisolone plus dexamethasone	2 (0.2%)
Timeline of corticosteroids use (days)
Time from symptom onset to corticosteroid initiation	9 [7–12]
Duration of corticosteroid treatment	6 [3–10]
Methylprednisolone	5 [3–10]
Dexamethasone	10 [5–10]
ARDS severity when corticosteroid initiation
Mild^a ARDS	267 (23.9%)
PaO₂/FiO₂ (mmHg)	240 [217–266]
Moderate^b ARDS	566 (50.7%)
PaO₂/FiO₂ (mmHg)	145 [121–169]
Severe^c ARDS	284 (25.4%)
PaO₂/FiO₂ (mmHg)	80 [69–91]

Data are expressed as numbers (%) or medians [interquartile range]
ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome, PaO₂/FiO₂ partial pressure of oxygen to fractional inspired oxygen
^aClassified as the worst value of PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio ≤ 300 to 200 mmHg within the first day of ICU admission
^bClassified as the worst value of PaO₂/FiO₂ between < 200 and 100 mmHg within the first day of ICU admission
^cClassified as the worst value of PaO₂/FiO₂ < 100 mmHg within the first day of ICU admission