Do Inhaled Steroids Help in Patients with COVID-19?

Systemic corticosteroids are helpful for patients with severe COVID-19 who require hospitalization with supplemental oxygen. The role of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) is less clear, with previous trials yielding conflicting results.

Almost 1300 adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who had symptoms for fewer than 7 days were randomized to 200-µg fluticasone furoate (Breo) or placebo for 14 days. About 13% of patients had asthma, and two thirds were vaccinated. Time to recovery (defined as 3 symptom-free days) was not different between groups. A combined endpoint of urgent-care or emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and death was reached slightly more frequently in the fluticasone group; however, serious complications were rare, with only three hospitalizations in each group and no deaths.