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Comparison of Efficacy of Dexamethasone and Methylprednisolone in Moderate to Severe Covid 19 Disease

Comparison of Efficacy of Dexamethasone and Methylprednisolone in Moderate to Severe Covid 19 Disease

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04603729
Acronym
covid19
Enrollment
100
Registered
2020-10-27
Start date
2020-05-30
Completion date
2020-07-01
Last updated
2020-10-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Covid 19 Disease

Keywords

covid19, dexamethasone, methlprednisolone, corticosteroids

Brief summary

The investigator will select participants with moderate to severe covid 19 disease admitted in Fatima memorial hospital. The investigator will divide them in two groups according to convenience sampling. Group 1 will be given dexamethasone 8mg/day and group 2 will be given methylprednisolone 1mg/kg/day IV for 5 days. The investigator will compare the improvement in temperature, oxygen requirement and CRP level at day zero and day 5 in both the groups.

Detailed description

The investigators enrolled first 100 participants admitted in covid unit of Fatima memorial hospital who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and signed informed consent. Baseline oxygen saturation and clinical findings were noted. Chest x-ray was done on admission. Baseline labs were sent, initial level of CRP (C-reactive protein) was noted down. Patients with oxygen saturation \< 94% on room air with normal chest x-ray and CRP between 30 - 50, were labelled as having moderate covid 19 disease. Patients with CRP\> 50 and having infiltrates on chest x-ray at the time of admission were considered having severe covid 19 disease. Intravenous methylprednisolone in a dose of 1 mg/kg/day in 2 divided doses or dexamethasone 8 mg/day IV was given to alternate patients for 5 days. After 5 days, the investigator again recorded the oxygen saturation, CRP level and repeat chest x-ray findings. Patients were given tocilizumab and convalescent plasma as and when indicated. Oxygen was given by nasal cannula and face mask. Patient was shifted to ICU if clinical condition deteriorated and/or mechanical ventilation is needed. The investigator noted the improvement in clinical, radiological and biochemical parameters of the patient on day 0 that is admission day and later on day 5 after giving steroids (methylprednisolone or dexamethasone) for 5 days. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Descriptive statistics like frequency and means were calculated. Paired sample t-test was applied for comparison of the two groups.

Interventions

DRUGDexamethasone 2 MG/ML

Dexamethasone 8mg/day will be given intravenous for 5 days to group 1 participants

methylprednisolone 1mg/kg/day will be given intravenous for 5 days to group 2 participants

Sponsors

Fatima Memorial Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Age 18 to 75 years 2. Covid PCR positive 3. Patient having oxygen saturation \< 94% on room air, regardless of chest x-ray findings 4. Moderate or severe covid 19 disease according to operational definition. 5. Patients who sign informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

1. Severe immunosuppression like HIV( Human immunodeficiency Virus) or long term use of immunosuppressant for any other chronic illness 2. Patients who need corticosteroids for any other disease like asthma, rheumatoid arthritis. 3. Pregnant or lactating females

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
temperature (F)5 daysreduction in temperature in degree farrenheit
oxygen saturation(%)5 daysreduction in oxygen requirement in lit/min
CRP (mg/dl)5 daysmean reduction in CRP mg/dl in 5 days
mortality5 daysnumber of patients died
ICU transfer5 daysnumber of patients shifted to ICU

Countries

Pakistan

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026