Dexamethasone in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care unit with COVID-19 pneumonia

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes acute respiratory distress syndrome and hyperinflammation. Dexamethasone is used to suppress hyperinflammation and reduce death. Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, we compared the mortality and length of stay in the intensive care unit of patients who received dexamethasone and those who did not. Results: Between March 11, 2020, and January 31, 2021, 141 patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit with severe COVID-19 were included in this study. Group 1 included 111 patients who received dexamethasone 6 mg for 10 days, and group 2 included 30 patients who did not receive dexamethasone. Mortality at 28 days was 72 (65%) in group 1 and 14 (46%) in group 2 (p = 0.07). The length of stay in the intensive care unit was longer in group 1 than in group 2 (median (min-max) 8 (3-50) versus 13 (3-74), p = 0.01). The number of culture-positive secondary infections was higher in group 1 than in group 2 (p = 0,04). Conclusions: In this study, a benefit in mortality could not be shown in patients who received dexamethasone. The length of stay in the intensive care unit was longer in the group that used dexamethasone than in the usual care group.