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.