High-dose Covid treatment less effective in India than Europe: Study

NEW DELHI: A higher dose of the steroid drug, dexamethasone, may have less beneficial effects for COVID-19 patients in India as compared with those in Europe, according to a study published in The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia journal.

The study looked at how well a strong dose of dexamethasone worked for COVID-19 patients. It considered factors like patient differences and health systems.

The team, including researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Denmark found that bigger dose of dexamethasone (12 mg) did not seem to be as good as the usual dose (6 mg) for COVID-19 patients in India.

This was seen through survival rates and how well people were doing after 90 and 180 days, they said.

“Our analysis suggests higher dose dexamethasone may have less beneficial effects for patients in India as compared with those in Europe; however, the evidence is weak, and this could represent a chance finding,” the authors of the study noted.

The researchers also looked at safety, finding no major issues for Indian patients.

The study emphasises that where patients are from can affect how well treatments work. It pointed out that in lower-middle-income countries like India, there are unique challenges that might make the treatment not work as well.

In a study assessing the impact of a larger dose of dexamethasone on COVID-19 patients in India, researchers reported encouraging results. Notably, the increased dosage did not lead to additional complications for Indian patients, prioritising their safety. However, the researchers emphasise the preliminary nature of their findings, underscoring the necessity for further extensive research to validate the results. The study serves as a reminder that treatment outcomes may vary across different regions globally, highlighting the importance of context-specific research. The collaborative research team involved contributors from esteemed institutions such as Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, Homi Bhabha National Institute in Mumbai, the George Institute for Global Health in New Delhi, and the University of New South Wales in Australia. This study contributes to the evolving understanding of COVID-19 treatment modalities and underscores the need for comprehensive investigations tailored to diverse populations.