Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal

Volume 3, Issue 4, December 2021, Pages 133 - 139

Glucocorticoids Use and Post-Hospitalization Outcomes among Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies with Meta-Analysis

Authors
Ebtihag O. Alenzi1, *, Hanaa O. Alenizi2
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia
2Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
*Corresponding author. Email: ebtihag2011@gmail.com
Corresponding Author
Ebtihag O. Alenzi
Received 22 June 2021, Accepted 22 October 2021, Available Online 5 November 2021.
DOI
10.2991/dsahmj.k.211028.001How to use a DOI?
Keywords
COVID-19; glucocorticoids; mortality; meta-analysis
Abstract

Background: A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association of glucocorticoids use with the likelihood of all-cause mortality in cases with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: Databases and cross-referencing were searched for observational studies about patients with COVID-19 who had a definite outcome (recovered/discharged or death). The outcome of interest was all-cause mortality, and the main exposure was receiving glucocorticoids after hospital admission. Results were pooled from selected studies by random-effects mode. Heterogeneity was examined using Q and I2 statistic, and a potential small-study effect was assessed through testing of the funnel plot asymmetry. Eighteen observational studies involving 10,039 patients with COVID-19 were pooled for final meta-analyses.

Results: Overall, the pooled results demonstrated that the association of glucocorticoids use with the risk of mortality was not statistically significant among individuals with COVID-19 (odds ratio = 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.83–2.3299) with significant heterogeneity and substantial inconsistency (Q = 292.24, p < 0.01, I2 = 94%). Subgroup analysis showed non-significant results, except for studies that reported using methylprednisolone.

Conclusion: The risk of death among COVID-19 patients may be not associated with exposure to glucocorticoids after hospitalization, except for methylprednisolone, which may be decrease the risk of death. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution because of substantial inconsistency across studies.

Copyright
© 2021 Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group. Publishing services by Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Download article (PDF)
View full text (HTML)

Journal
Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal
Volume-Issue
3 - 4
Pages
133 - 139
Publication Date
2021/11/05
ISSN (Online)
2590-3349
ISSN (Print)
2666-819X
DOI
10.2991/dsahmj.k.211028.001How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2021 Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group. Publishing services by Atlantis Press International B.V.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Cite this article

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Ebtihag O. Alenzi
AU  - Hanaa O. Alenizi
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/11/05
TI  - Glucocorticoids Use and Post-Hospitalization Outcomes among Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies with Meta-Analysis
JO  - Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Journal
SP  - 133
EP  - 139
VL  - 3
IS  - 4
SN  - 2590-3349
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/dsahmj.k.211028.001
DO  - 10.2991/dsahmj.k.211028.001
ID  - Alenzi2021
ER  -