Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Saturday, Jul 05, 2025

Study confirms dexamethasone benefits for critically ill Covid-19 patients

Study confirms dexamethasone benefits for critically ill Covid-19 patients

The full results of a UK trial of dexamethasone, published on Friday confirmed its life-saving benefits for ventilator-connected Covid-19 patients. Although they suggest it may cause harm, if given too soon.
A total of 2,104 hospitalized patients received daily doses of six milligrams of dexamethasone for up to 10 days, while another 4,321 received standard treatment, comparing death rates after 28 days.

Among respirator patients, the death rate was 29.3% in those who took dexamethasone, versus 41.4% in those who did not, according to the study's findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In patients who received oxygen through less invasive means than respirators, the benefit was less since 23.3% of those who received dexamethasone died compared to 26.2% of those who were not medicated with the steroid.

However, there were no benefits among those who were not receiving oxygen at the time the study began.

In this case, 17.4% of those who took dexamethasone died, against 14% of those who did not, suggesting that the drug increased their risk of mortality.

This is because the drug works by suppressing the abnormal immune response that damages the body's organs, rather than attacking the virus.

In an interview with AFP in June, American scientist Anthony Fauci cautioned that dexamethasone should not be prescribed too soon in covid-19 patients.

It had no effect, or perhaps suggesting a worsening of things from the beginning, said the White House medical adviser.

Fauci considered that this is perfectly compatible with the knowledge that at the beginning of the infection the immune system is needed to suppress the virus.

The research authors estimated that the drug's benefits depend on the right dose, at the right time, in the right patient.

They also indicated that for covid-19, for patients requiring oxygen, the abnormal immune response seems to be more responsible for the damage than the advance of the virus itself in the body.

But they cautioned that this hypothesis should not apply to other viral respiratory diseases like SARS, MERS, and influenza, without further study.

Dexamethasone was adopted in the United Kingdom on June 16, the day the initial research results were announced and is also recommended by the United States National Institutes of Health.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
×