Patterns of steroid utilization in COVID-19 patients (Q21-02)

The National Institute of Health’s COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines state that dexamethasone should not be used in outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19, or in hospitalized patients who do not require supplemental oxygen. Preliminary results from the United States Federal Drug Administration (FDA) indicate that corticiosteroids are administered in approximately 15% of outpatients with a COVID-19 diagnosis. In collaboration with the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), this study will describe the patterns of CS use in outpatients with COVID-19 from several Canadian provinces and evaluate the effects of this use on important adverse outcomes.

To describe the utilization patterns, clinical and demographic characteristics and outcomes among patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis who initiate oral or injectable CS therapy in an outpatient setting.