Dexamethasone endorsed for COVID-19 by EMA

Recently, the EMA endorsed the use of dexamethasone in adults and adolescents for those that are (12 years old and above and weigh 40kg or more) who require supplemental oxygen therapy. The approved dose for adults and adolescents is 6 milligrams once a day for up to 10 days.

The approved routes of Dexamethasone administration were

1. Oral

2. injection or infusion (drip) into a vein.

RECOVERY study showed that for patients on invasive mechanical ventilation, 29% of patients died within 28 days of starting dexamethasone treatment compared with 41% of patients receiving usual care, with a relative reduction of about 35%. In patients receiving oxygen without mechanical ventilation, the figures were 23% with dexamethasone and 26% with usual care, with a relative reduction of about 20%.

Moreover, no reduction in the risk of death occurred in patients who were not receiving oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation.

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