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The RECOVERY trial demonstrated that dexamethasone reduced mortality when given to patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who required supplemental oxygen (NEJM JW Infect Dis Sep 2020 and N Engl J Med 2021; 384:693). In that trial, 6 mg dexamethasone was given daily for 10 days or until hospital discharge, whichever occurred first. Now, investigators have evaluated whether 12 mg dexamethasone is better than 6 mg in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19.
A total of 1000 patients who required ≥10 L/minute of oxygen or mechanical ventilation were randomized 1:1 to receive 12 mg/day or 6 mg/day intravenous dexamethasone for up to 10 days. Key results are as follows:
Median number of days alive without life support was 22.0 (12 mg) and 20.5 (6 m…