Steroids Cut COVID-19 Death Rates, but Not for Everyone

For those with less severe infections, including the asymptomatic, steroids have more side-effects than benefits

Steroids are now a first-line treatment in cases of severe COVID-19 where patients require oxygen or being put on a ventilator. Halfpoint/Shutterstock

New studies show that treating critically ill COVID-19 patients with inexpensive steroids can cut their risk of dying from the illness by a third. The results are so clear that the World Health Organization changed its advice on Sept. 2 and now strongly recommends corticosteroids as a first-line treatment for the sickest patients.

Steroids aren’t risk-free, however. They can have side effects, and they could do more harm than good in patients with milder cases of COVID-19.