Outcome of coronavirus‐associated severe acute respiratory syndrome using a standard treatment protocol

LAU, Arthur Chun‐Wing; SO, Loletta Kit‐Ying; MIU, Flora Pui‐Ling; YUNG, Raymond Wai‐Hung; POON, Edwin; CHEUNG, Thomas Man‐Tat; YAM, Loretta Yin‐Chun

Objective: There is so far no consensus on the optimal treatment strategy for the coronavirus‐associated severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). We aimed to analyse the outcomes of a standard treatment strategy comprising antibiotics, a combination of ribavirin, a 3‐week step‐down course of corticosteroids, and the possibility of pulsed methylprednisolone rescue in the event of deterioration. Methodology: This was a prospective cohort study performed at a major public‐funded hospital in Hong Kong. Eighty‐eight World Health Organisation/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention probable cases of SARS (97% laboratory‐confirmed) were treated with a standard protocol previously reported. Seventy‐one patients treated de novo were analysed in detail with regard to time to clinical stabilization after combination treatment, requirement of additional therapy (pulsed methylprednisolone; assisted ventilation); and final outcomes (recovery, mortality). Results: The mean age was 42. Twenty‐one patients (24%) had comorbidities. Three of 71 treated de novo recovered with antibiotics alone. The remaining 68 received combination treatment at a mean of 5.8 days after symptom onset, of whom 30 subsequently required pulsed methylprednisolone rescue (independent predictors: older age and higher LDH) and 18 required assisted ventilation (independent predictors: older age, higher oxygen requirement and creatinine level). Their median time to clinical stabilization was 8.0 days after combination treatment (independent predictor for longer time to stabilization: median age of 41 or above). Common complications were hyperglycaemia (58%), pneumo‐mediastinum/thoraces (13%), psychiatric manifestations (7%) and ventilator‐associated pneumonia (2%). One patient (1%) died of SARS‐related respiratory failure. All‐cause mortality was 3.4%, occurring in patients aged > 65 years only. None of the discharged survivors required continuation of oxygen therapy. Conclusions: This standard treatment protocol resulted in overall satisfactory outcomes. Randomized controlled trial is suggested to confirm its efficacy.