Table 1.
Baseline covariates of included studies.
| Study | Type | Country | NOS score/ Jaded score | Site | Age (A vs. B) | N (A vs. B) | Deaths (A vs. B) | Virus | Follow-up | Dose and duration | Dose calculation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabi [16] | Observational | Saudi Arabia; | NOS score: 9 | Multi-center |
58 ± 17; 55 ± 17 |
151; 158 |
112; 91 |
MERS-CoV | 90 days |
Median maximum dose: 300 mg; Median duration: 7 days (4–14 days) |
Hydrocortisone-equivalent doses. |
| Chen [15] | Observational | Guangzhou, Guangdong, China | NOS score: 7 | Single center |
33 ± 12 for survivors; 54 ± 16 for nonsurvivors |
268; 133 |
18; 7 |
SARS-CoV | Hospital stay |
Mean dose of critical patients (133.5 ± 102.3 mg/day) Mean dose of noncritical patients (105.3 ± 86.1 mg/day) Median accumulated dose of critical patients: 2470.48; Median accumulated dose of noncritical patients: 1372.18; |
Methylprednisolone-equivalent equivalents. |
| Guan [2] | Observational | Guangzhou, Guangdong, China | NOS score: 5 | Multi-center |
Composite endpoint Yes: 63 (53–71); No: 46 (35–57) |
204; 895 |
/ | SARS-CoV-2 | Midpoint mortality | / | / |
| Jia [12] | Observational | Guangzhou, Guangdong, China | NOS score: 7 | Single center |
40 ± 16.5 42 ± 17 |
134; 91 |
56; 38 |
SARS-CoV | Hospital stay |
Mean accumulated dose: 1472.82 mg; Mean daily dose: 95.92 mg/day Mean duration: 11.2 days |
Methylprednisolone-equivalent equivalents. |
| Lee [6] | RCT | China | Jadad Score: 4 | Two centers |
Mean age: 35 vs. 24 |
9; 7 |
/ | SARS-CoV | / | / | / |
| Wang [14] | Observational | Beijing, China | NOS score: 7 | Multi-center |
37 ± 15; 36 ± 17 |
1084; 207 |
106; 15 |
SARS-CoV | Hospital stay |
Initial dose: 154 ± 110 mg/day Maximum dose: 251 ± 213 mg/day; Cumulative dose: 2887 ± 2619 |
Methylprednisolone-equivalent equivalents. |
| Wang [13] | Observational | Shanxi, China | NOS score: 7 | Multi-center |
32 ± 16; 37 ± 17 |
49; 245 |
0; 13 |
SARS-CoV | Hospital stay | / | / |
| Wu [10] | Observational | Wuhan, China | NOS score: 7 | Single center |
50 (40–57) for survivors; 68.5 (59–75) for nonsurvivors |
50; 34 |
23; 21 |
SARS-CoV-2 | Hospital stay | / | / |
| Yam [11] | Observational | Hong Kong, China | NOS score: 7 | Multi-center |
Corticosteroid (prednisolone: 34 (26–47); methylprednisolone: 39 (29–48); hydrocortisone: 40 (31–52) Pulse corticosteroid: 47 (32–72)) Control: 61 (40–81) |
1188; 99 |
202; 28 |
SARS-CoV | Hospital stay |
Median cumulative doses (prednisolone: 7020 mg; methylprednisolone: 11,350 mg; hydrocortisone: 13,200 mg; pulse corticosteroid: 17,560 mg) Median duration (prednisolone: 15 days; methylprednisolone: 21 days; hydrocortisone: 19 days; pulse corticosteroid: 19 days) |
Hydrocortisone-equivalent doses. |
| Yang [8] | Observational | Wuhan, China | NOS score: 7 | Single center |
52 ± 13 for survivors; 65 ± 11 for nonsurvivors |
30; 22 |
16; 16 |
SARS-CoV-2 | 28 days | / | / |
| Zhou [9] | Observational | Wuhan, China | NOS score: 7 | Two centers |
52 (45–58) for survivors; 69 (63–76) for nonsurvivors |
57; 134 |
26; 28 |
SARS-CoV-2 | Hospital stay | / | / |
Converted to hydrocortisone-equivalent doses: (methylprednisolone 1:5, dexamethasone 1:25, prednisolone 1:4). All the steroid types were converted to hydrocortisone equivalent based on relative glucocorticoid activities in the following ratios: 4 mg methylprednisolone = 5 mg prednisolone = 20 mg hydrocortisone.
A corticosteroid, B control, NOS Newcastle–Ottawa scale, RCT randomized controlled trial, MERS Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, SARS-CoV severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.