Low-dose hydrocortisone in patients with COVID-19 and severe hypoxia (COVID STEROID) trial-Protocol and statistical analysis plan.

Petersen MW, Meyhoff TS, Helleberg M, Kjaer MN, Granholm A, Hjortsø CJS, Jensen TS, Møller MH, Hjortrup PB, Wetterslev M, Vesterlund GK, Russell L, Jørgensen VL, Tjelle K, Benfield T, Ulrik CS, Andreasen AS, Mohr T, Bestle MH, Poulsen LM, Hitz MF, Hildebrandt T, Knudsen LS, Møller A, Sølling CG, Brøchner AC, Rasmussen BS, Nielsen H, Christensen S, Strøm T, Cronhjort M, Wahlin RR, Jakob S, Cioccari L, Venkatesh B, Hammond N, Jha V, Myatra SN, Gluud C, Lange T, Perner A

Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 64 (9) 1365-1375 [2020-10-00; online 2020-07-30]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has caused a pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with many patients developing hypoxic respiratory failure. Corticosteroids reduce the time on mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit and potentially also mortality in similar patient populations. However, corticosteroids have undesirable effects, including longer time to viral clearance. Clinical equipoise on the use of corticosteroids for COVID-19 exists. The COVID STEROID trial is an international, randomised, stratified, blinded clinical trial. We will allocate 1000 adult patients with COVID-19 receiving ≥10 L/min of oxygen or on mechanical ventilation to intravenous hydrocortisone 200 mg daily vs placebo (0.9% saline) for 7 days. The primary outcome is days alive without life support (ie mechanical ventilation, circulatory support, and renal replacement therapy) at day 28. Secondary outcomes are serious adverse reactions at day 14; days alive without life support at day 90; days alive and out of hospital at day 90; all-cause mortality at day 28, day 90, and 1 year; and health-related quality of life at 1 year. We will conduct the statistical analyses according to this protocol, including interim analyses for every 250 patients followed for 28 days. The primary outcome will be compared using the Kryger Jensen and Lange test in the intention to treat population and reported as differences in means and medians with 95% confidence intervals. The COVID STEROID trial will provide important evidence to guide the use of corticosteroids in COVID-19 and severe hypoxia.

Category: Health

Type: Journal article

PubMed 32779728

DOI 10.1111/aas.13673

Crossref 10.1111/aas.13673

pmc: PMC7404666


Publications 9.5.0