In a clinical trial led by a team from Oxford University, dexamethasone was given to about 2,000 patients.

Oxford University scientists administered dexamethasone to more than 2,000 patients in one of the world’s largest randomized, controlled trials.

Oxford University scientists administered dexamethasone to more than 2,000 patients in one of the world’s largest randomized, controlled trials.In a recovery trial that was launched in March 2020, Oxford University scientists randomly allocated dexamethasone to a total of 2104 patients who were hospitalized due to Covid-19. During this trial, 2104 patients were administered with 6 mg dexamethasone once in a day for ten days, and the results were compared with 4321 patients who received standard care for coronavirus infection. In the trial, the drug showed that it cut deaths by about one-third in patients who were on ventilators.

The effect of dexamethasone was most striking among critically ill patients on ventilators. Those who were receiving oxygen therapy but were not on ventilators also saw improvement, their risk of dying was reduced by 20%. Though, the steroid had no effect on people with less severe cases of COVID-19, as in those not receiving oxygen or ventilation.

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