2. METHODS
This was a retrospective study conducted in the department of medicine at Government General Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan, over a period of four months from March 15, 2020 till July 15, 2020. During this period, all patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in the study, using nonprobability purposive sampling. Inclusion criteria: all patients with age between 18 to 80 years, both genders, COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive or radiologically COVID-19, moderate/severe critical respiratory disease. The disease severity of COVID-19 was based on our national clinical management guidelines for COVID-19 infection.2 Exclusion criteria: age less than 18 or more than 80 years, pregnant females, mild respiratory disease, received plasma transfusion, received tocilizumab or remdesivir. The enrolled patients were categorized into two groups. Group I included 25 patients who were given steroids during their hospital stay, oral or injectable (as per national clinical management guidelines). Group II also included 25 patients who were not given any steroids during their hospital stay. All patient medical charts were reviewed and data regarding age, gender, length of hospital stay, the severity of the condition at presentation, maximum oxygen requirement, the need for ventilatory support, laboratory findings, the dose of steroids used, and the outcome of the patients (recovery versus mortality) were recorded. The study received ethical approval from the Ethical Review Committee of Faisalabad Medical University.