When should steroids be administered?

Evidence suggests that glucocorticoids can reduce mortality in patients with COVID-19 who require oxygen supplementation. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) including over 6400 patients found reduced 28-day mortality in patients who received oral or intravenous dexamethasone 6 mg compared with placebo (22.9 vs. 25.7%) [1]. A meta-analysis incorporating this study with 6 others found a 32.7% mortality rate in those receiving glucocorticoids, compared to 41.5% among the control group [2]. A separate meta-analysis suggests glucocorticoids reduce mortality by 3.1% and need for mechanical ventilation by 2.8% [3]. Dexamethasone currently has the most robust evidence as a therapy in COVID-19, and as such, we recommend using dexamethasone 6 mg oral (PO) or intravenous (IV) for patients with COVID-19 requiring oxygen supplementation.

Is there a benefit to convalescent plasma?

Convalescent plasma demonstrated promise early in the pandemic [4]. A Cochrane review with 19 studies (2 RCTs) found no clear evidence that convalescent plasma reduces mortality or improves clinical symptoms, with unclear side effects [5]. Thus, it remains uncertain whether convalescent plasma provides any benefit in patients with COVID-19, and we do not recommend it for routine use at this time [4].

Is there a benefit to remdesivir?

Remdesivir is currently approved by the United State Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) for use in COVID-19 [4]. One of the largest studies to date is the ACTT-1 trial, which included 1062 patients with confirmed COVID-19, of which 85% were classified as severe [6]. Patients receiving remdesivir demonstrated faster time to recovery (10 vs 15 days), but on subgroup analysis, this was only present in patients on low flow oxygen. This specific subgroup also demonstrated reduced mortality. Among those who were critically ill on mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, there was no difference in time to recovery or mortality. In patients with non-severe disease, there is also no clear benefit. The ACTT-1 trial included 119 patients with mild-moderate disease, with no difference in time to recovery with remdesivir [6]. In a separate RCT of 584 patients with moderate COVID-19, the authors found no significant difference in clinical status based on a 7-point ordinal scale after a 10-day course of remdesivir [7]. Another RCT found no difference in mortality [8]. Remdesivir has only shown benefit in a very narrow clinical spectrum, and therefore routine use for all patients is not recommended.

What is bamlanivimab?

Bamlanivimab is a monoclonal antibody which recently received an emergency use authorization by the U.S. FDA for treatment of patients with confirmed mild to moderate COVID-19 within 10 days of symptom onset and risk of progressing to severe disease [9]. It requires intravenous infusion and is not authorized for patients requiring supplemental oxygen or those who are hospitalized [9]. As of late November 2020, the evidence is controversial in its ability to reduce the viral load or reduce hospitalizations, and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends against its routine use [10, 11]. Other monoclonal antibodies, alone or in combination, are under evaluation.

What does the evidence suggest for antimalarials?

While initially purported as a treatment strategy early in the pandemic, antimalarial agents (e.g., hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine) have not demonstrated significant benefit, while demonstrating significant risk of harm, including severe cardiac arrhythmias [3]. As a result, antimalarial agents are no longer recommended for the treatment of COVID-19.

Key points

  1. 1.

    For patients with COVID-19 requiring supplemental oxygen, glucocorticoids (dexamethasone 6 mg) are recommended.

  2. 2.

    It is uncertain whether convalescent plasma provides any benefit in patients with COVID-19.

  3. 3.

    Remdesivir may benefit patients on low flow oxygen, but benefit is not present in other populations. Routine use for all patients is not recommended.

  4. 4.

    It is uncertain whether bamlanivimab or other monoclonal antibodies reduce viral load or need for hospitalization.

  5. 5.

    Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have no benefit and may result in harm; thus, they are not recommended.

Infographic. COVID-19 therapeutics updates.

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