Corticosteroids in Severe COVID-19 (ASAP-ESICM/ESAIC Study)
Condition: Severe COVID-19
MeSH terms: COVID-19
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      Brief Summary: Administration of systemic corticosteroids for patients with severe forms of
      severe acute respiratory syndrome in coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are recommended by
      several guidelines. In the very beginning of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic the early recommendation by
      professional organization was against routine use of corticosteroids for patients with
      coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ARDS, despite previous data and clinical practice for
      patients with refractory or severe form of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). But
      recently after publication of RECOVERY trial (Randomized Evaluation of Covid-19 Therapy, July
      2020) and ensued metaanalysis of World Health Organization (WHO) working group, routine
      administration of systemic corticosteroids was revisited. However, there is an ongoing debate
      regarding evidence supporting the dose, type of administration (bolus vs. continuous
      infusion), timing and type of corticosteroids. Ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
      are challenging the recommendation of 6 mg of dexamethasone for all patients with severe form
      of COVID-19. Due to the dynamics of COVID-19 surges and rapid issuing of official
      recommendations, daily clinical practice of systemic corticosteroids administration can vary.
      An electronic evaluation form containing 20 questions will be sent to European Society of
      Intensive Care (ESICM) and European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC)
      members. Participants will be asked to describe their routine clinical practice regarding
      administration of systemic corticosteroids among patients with COVID-19 ARDS.
    

Detailed description: 
      Brief Summary: Administration of systemic corticosteroids for patients with severe forms of
      SARS-CoV-2 infection are recommended by several guidelines. In the very beginning of
      SARS-CoV-2 pandemic the early recommendation by professional organization was against routine
      use of corticosteroids for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ARDS, despite
      previous data and clinical practice for patients with refractory or severe form of ARDS. But
      recently after publication of RECOVERY trial (Randomized Evaluation of Covid-19 Therapy, July
      2020) and ensued metaanalysis of WHO working group, routine administration of systemic
      corticosteroids was revisited. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding evidence
      supporting the dose, type of administration (bolus vs. continuous infusion), timing and type
      of corticosteroids. Ongoing RCTs (Randomized Clinical Trials) are challenging the
      recommendation of 6 mg of dexamethasone for all patients with severe form of COVID-19. Due to
      the dynamics of COVID-19 surges and rapid issuing of official recommendations, daily clinical
      practice of systemic corticosteroids administration can vary. An electronic evaluation form
      containing 20 questions will be sent to European Society of Intensive Care (ESICM) European
      Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC) members. Participants will be asked to
      describe their routine clinical practice regarding administration of systemic corticosteroids
      among patients with COVID-19 ARDS.
    

Intervention name(s): questionnaire
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Members of European Society of Intensive Care and European Society of ANaesthesiology and Intensive care will obtain an electronic survey regarding their routine clinical practice of systemic corticosteroids administration among patients with COVID-19 ARDS
Other intervention name(s): electronic survey
Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Members of European Society of Intensive Care Members of European Society of
        Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care (ESAIC)
      
Keywords: COVID-19; ARDS; corticosteroids; critical care