A Meta-Analysis on Corticosteroids and Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Corticosteroids were associated with lower 30-day all-cause mortality, particularly in patients directly admitted to the ICU.

Many studies have been designed to examine the role of adjunctive corticosteroid therapy for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), with some suggesting a positive outcome. Now, Austrian investigators have performed a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression encompassing 15 trials (in all, 3367 participants) to assess the efficacy of corticosteroids in adults hospitalized with CAP. The cause was not identified in more than half of participants, while Streptococcus pneumoniae was the culprit in about one fifth.

All-cause mortality at 30 days (the primary endpoint) was lower in the corticosteroid group than the control group (6.2 vs. 9.1%; P=0.001). In addition, development of ARDS was less likely (0.4 vs. 3.0%; P=0.02) and time to c…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

A Meta-Analysis on Corticosteroids and Community-Acquired Pneumonia

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Reviewing Author