Dexamethasone for COVID-19: data needed from randomised clinical trials in Africa

Type Journal Article Author Helen Brotherton Author Effua Usuf Author Behzad Nadjm Author Karen Forrest Author Kalifa Bojang Author Ahmadou Lamin Samateh Author Mustapha Bittaye Author Charles AP Roberts Author Umberto d'Alessandro Author Anna Roca URL https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(20)30318-1/abstract Series Correspondence Volume 8 Issue 9 Pages e1125-e1126 Publication The Lancet Global Health ISSN 2214-109X Date 14/07/2020 Extra Publisher: Elsevier PMID: 32679038 Journal Abbr The Lancet Global Health DOI 10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30318-1 Library Catalog www.thelancet.com Language English Abstract Over the past 6 months, potential COVID-19 treatments have come under intense scrutiny on social media, shifting the public discourse without a strong scientific rationale. There are now preliminary data showing that, in patients from Europe, low-dose dexamethasone reduces mortality by up to 33% in the most severely affected patients needing invasive ventilation (rate ratio 0·65, 95% CI [0·51–0·82]; p<0·001) and by 20% in those needing oxygen (rate ratio 0·80, 95% CI [0·70–0·92]; p=0·002).1 We welcome the RECOVERY trial1 results and support the implementation of dexamethasone as standard of care in settings similar to the trial sites. Short Title Dexamethasone for COVID-19