The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Jul 2021
Impact of systemic corticosteroids on mortality in older adults with critical COVID-19 pneumonia.
The most susceptible population group to critical and fatal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is older adults. In severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, the host immune response is thought to play a key role in the pathophysiological effects of lung damage. Therefore, corticosteroid therapy could modulate inflammation-mediated pulmonary injury and thereby reduce progression to severe respiratory failure and death. The aim of this study was to analyze the safety and clinical efficacy of corticosteroid therapy in older adults with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. ⋯ In critically ill older adults with COVID-19 pneumonia, the use of corticosteroid treatment resulted in lower mortality without severe adverse events.