A 55-year-old man with COVID-19 pneumonia (SpO₂ 88% on room air, CRP 145 mg/L, ferritin 1820 ng/mL) is hospitalised and requires supplemental oxygen. According to the WHO and RECOVERY trial data, the treatment that reduces 28-day mortality in this patient is:
- A Dexamethasone 6 mg once daily for 10 days ✓
- B Remdesivir for 5 days regardless of oxygen requirement
- C Hydroxychloroquine
- D Convalescent plasma
Explanation
The RECOVERY trial (2021) was the landmark randomised trial demonstrating that dexamethasone 6 mg once daily for up to 10 days reduced 28-day mortality in hospitalised COVID-19 patients requiring supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation (relative risk reduction approximately 17–36% depending on level of respiratory support). It is now standard of care for hypoxaemic COVID-19. Remdesivir reduces time to recovery but has not consistently shown mortality benefit. Hydroxychloroquine showed no benefit in RECOVERY, Solidarity, and other trials. Convalescent plasma was also shown to be ineffective in hospitalised patients in RECOVERY.
Reference: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 21st ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.