Table 1. Proposed criteria to introduce systemic corticosteroids in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

O2 supply requirement and ≥1 of the following criteria:

• Patient has dyspnea at rest or during minimal activity (sitting up in bed, standing, talking)

• Breathing rate >30 bpm

• PaO2 <60 mmHg in ambient air at admission or worsening hypoxemia during hospitalization

• Persistent fever (body temperature >38°C)

• Radiographic progression of lung opacities

• CRP mg/l >100

• Ferritin μg/l >1000

BPM: Beats per minute; CRP: C-reactive protein; O₂: Oxygen; PaO₂: Partial pressure of oxygen.