Real-world corticosteroid use in severe pneumonia: a propensity-score-matched study

Abstract Background Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide despite correct antibiotic use. Corticosteroids have long been evaluated as a treatment option, but heterogeneous effects on survival have precluded their widespread implementation. We aime...

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Main Authors: A. Ceccato, A. Russo, E. Barbeta, P. Oscanoa, G. Tiseo, A. Gabarrus, P. Di Giannatale, S. Nogas, C. Cilloniz, F. Menichetti, M. Ferrer, M. Niederman, M. Falcone, A. Torres
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-12-01
Series:Critical Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-021-03840-x
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author A. Ceccato
A. Russo
E. Barbeta
P. Oscanoa
G. Tiseo
A. Gabarrus
P. Di Giannatale
S. Nogas
C. Cilloniz
F. Menichetti
M. Ferrer
M. Niederman
M. Falcone
A. Torres
author_facet A. Ceccato
A. Russo
E. Barbeta
P. Oscanoa
G. Tiseo
A. Gabarrus
P. Di Giannatale
S. Nogas
C. Cilloniz
F. Menichetti
M. Ferrer
M. Niederman
M. Falcone
A. Torres
author_sort A. Ceccato
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide despite correct antibiotic use. Corticosteroids have long been evaluated as a treatment option, but heterogeneous effects on survival have precluded their widespread implementation. We aimed to evaluate whether corticosteroids might improve clinical outcomes in patients with severe CAP and high inflammatory responses. Study design and methods We analyzed two prospective observational cohorts of patients with CAP in Barcelona and Rome who were admitted to intensive care with a high inflammatory response. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to obtain balance among the baseline variables in both groups, and we excluded patients with viral pneumonia or who received hydrocortisone. Results Of the 610 patients admitted with severe CAP, 198 (32%) received corticosteroids and 387 had major criteria for severe CAP. All patients had a baseline serum C-reactive protein above 15 mg/dL. Patients who received corticosteroids were more commonly male, had more comorbidities (e.g., cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and presented with significantly higher sequential organ failure assessment scores. Eighty-nine patients met major severity criteria (invasive mechanical ventilation and/or septic shock) and were matched per group. Twenty-eight-day mortality was lower among patients receiving corticosteroids (16 patients, 18%) than among those not receiving them (28 patients, 31%; p = 0.037). After PS matching, corticosteroid therapy reduced the 28-day mortality risk in patients who met major severity criteria (hazard ratio (HR) 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29–0.98) (p = 0.043). In patients who did not meet major severity criteria, no benefits were observed with corticosteroid use (HR 0.88 (95%CI 0.32–2.36). Conclusions Corticosteroid treatment may be of benefit for patients with CAP who have septic shock and/or a high inflammatory response and requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation. Corticosteroids appear to have no impact on mortality when these features are not present.
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spelling doaj.art-3b7d443a65ff45b99924a13bca10e51e2022-12-22T04:08:57ZengBMCCritical Care1364-85352021-12-012511710.1186/s13054-021-03840-xReal-world corticosteroid use in severe pneumonia: a propensity-score-matched studyA. Ceccato0A. Russo1E. Barbeta2P. Oscanoa3G. Tiseo4A. Gabarrus5P. Di Giannatale6S. Nogas7C. Cilloniz8F. Menichetti9M. Ferrer10M. Niederman11M. Falcone12A. Torres13Ciber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (Ciberes, CB06/06/0028), Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona (UB)Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Policlinico Umberto I, “Sapienza” University of RomeCiber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (Ciberes, CB06/06/0028), Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona (UB)Ciber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (Ciberes, CB06/06/0028), Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona (UB)Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaCiber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (Ciberes, CB06/06/0028), Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona (UB)Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Section of Anesthesia Analgesia, Perioperative and Intensive Care, SS. Annunziata Hospital, Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti-PescaraDipartimento Scienze Chirurgiche E Diagnostiche Integrate (DISC), Università Degli Studi Di GenovaCiber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (Ciberes, CB06/06/0028), Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona (UB)Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaCiber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (Ciberes, CB06/06/0028), Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona (UB)Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical CenterInfectious Diseases Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaCiber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (Ciberes, CB06/06/0028), Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona (UB)Abstract Background Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide despite correct antibiotic use. Corticosteroids have long been evaluated as a treatment option, but heterogeneous effects on survival have precluded their widespread implementation. We aimed to evaluate whether corticosteroids might improve clinical outcomes in patients with severe CAP and high inflammatory responses. Study design and methods We analyzed two prospective observational cohorts of patients with CAP in Barcelona and Rome who were admitted to intensive care with a high inflammatory response. Propensity score (PS) matching was used to obtain balance among the baseline variables in both groups, and we excluded patients with viral pneumonia or who received hydrocortisone. Results Of the 610 patients admitted with severe CAP, 198 (32%) received corticosteroids and 387 had major criteria for severe CAP. All patients had a baseline serum C-reactive protein above 15 mg/dL. Patients who received corticosteroids were more commonly male, had more comorbidities (e.g., cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and presented with significantly higher sequential organ failure assessment scores. Eighty-nine patients met major severity criteria (invasive mechanical ventilation and/or septic shock) and were matched per group. Twenty-eight-day mortality was lower among patients receiving corticosteroids (16 patients, 18%) than among those not receiving them (28 patients, 31%; p = 0.037). After PS matching, corticosteroid therapy reduced the 28-day mortality risk in patients who met major severity criteria (hazard ratio (HR) 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29–0.98) (p = 0.043). In patients who did not meet major severity criteria, no benefits were observed with corticosteroid use (HR 0.88 (95%CI 0.32–2.36). Conclusions Corticosteroid treatment may be of benefit for patients with CAP who have septic shock and/or a high inflammatory response and requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation. Corticosteroids appear to have no impact on mortality when these features are not present.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-021-03840-xCommunity-acquired pneumoniaCorticosteroidsMortality
spellingShingle A. Ceccato
A. Russo
E. Barbeta
P. Oscanoa
G. Tiseo
A. Gabarrus
P. Di Giannatale
S. Nogas
C. Cilloniz
F. Menichetti
M. Ferrer
M. Niederman
M. Falcone
A. Torres
Real-world corticosteroid use in severe pneumonia: a propensity-score-matched study
Critical Care
Community-acquired pneumonia
Corticosteroids
Mortality
title Real-world corticosteroid use in severe pneumonia: a propensity-score-matched study
title_full Real-world corticosteroid use in severe pneumonia: a propensity-score-matched study
title_fullStr Real-world corticosteroid use in severe pneumonia: a propensity-score-matched study
title_full_unstemmed Real-world corticosteroid use in severe pneumonia: a propensity-score-matched study
title_short Real-world corticosteroid use in severe pneumonia: a propensity-score-matched study
title_sort real world corticosteroid use in severe pneumonia a propensity score matched study
topic Community-acquired pneumonia
Corticosteroids
Mortality
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-021-03840-x
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