Dexamethasone: A Proven Life-Saving Drug for COVID-19 Patients, According to Study

Experts from the United Kingdom recently claimed that dexamethasone, a low-dose steroid treatment, is a significant development in combating the deadly virus.

BBC News reported that this said drug is part of the globe's most significant "biggest trial existing treatments" to determine if they are also useful against COVID-19.

The experts also claimed that dexamethasone cut the risk of death by one-third for patients who are on ventilators. And, for individuals on oxygen, it reduces mortalities by a fifth.

Also, according to research, had the drug mentioned been used for the treatment of patients in the UK since the pandemic started, "up to 5,000 lives could have been saved." 

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COVID-19 Recoveries without Hospital Confinement

Studies have it that out of 20 COVID-19 patients, 19 have recovered without the need to be confined at a hospital. Among those confined at the hospital, most have recovered as well, although some of them may need mechanical ventilation or oxygen.

The research indicated that the patients mentioned above are the "high-risk patients" dexamethasone seems to help. Principally, dexamethasone is already used for the reduction of inflammation in a variety of other health conditions, including asthma, arthritis, and even skin conditions.

Seemingly the low-dose steroid treatment helps prevent some of the damages that can occur when the immune system of the body goes into what's termed as "overdrive" as it attempts to combat COVID-19.

During the drug's trial, which a team from Oxford University led, around 2,000 patients at the hospital were administered with dexamethasone. They were compared to over 4,000 who were not given the dexamethasone.

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Dexamethasone Cuts Death Risk among Patients on Ventilators

For patients who are on ventilators, dexamethasone cut death risk, according to research, from 40 percent to 28 percent. Meanwhile, as for patients on oxygen, the medicine cut the risk of death to 20 percent from 25 percent.

According to Chief investigator Prof. Peter Horby, dexamethasone is the lone drug so far, "That has been shown to cut mortality, and it cuts it considerably." 

This, Horby added, is a significant breakthrough in the field of medicine, considering the challenge in looking for vaccines that will kill the virus.

Dexamethasone, according to Prof. Martin Landray said, is available worldwide. More so, he explained, when suitable, hospital patients need to be administered with it without any delay.

It is essential to know too, that this is not available over the counter and cannot be taken home for self- or home administration. Dexamethasone, according to the said research, does not seem to help patients with milder COVID-19 symptoms that usually do not need any assistance when breathing.

Landray also said, the first drug which research proved to reduce mortalities from the virus "is not some new, costly drugs, but an old, cheap-as-chips steroid."

And not known to many, dexamethasone has existed and been given to people since the early 60s for the treatment of an array of health conditions like asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, to name two.

Also, part of the research finding is that 50 percent of all COVID-19 patients who need a ventilator fails to survive, so reducing the risk by one third would have a considerable effect.  

Lastly, dexamethasone is administered intravenously for ICU patients, and in the form of tablets for the less sick.

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