Research done Western Pennsylvania is about to have a major impact on how COVID-19 is treated around the world. A new study shows that steroids can improve survival outcomes for severely ill COVID-19 patients.

The study was a global collaboration but it was led by clinician scientists at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The World Health Organization is changing their guidelines to include this potentially life saving treatment option.

The new study confirms there are multiple types of steroids that can help severely ill COVID-19 patients, and this opens the door for a more cost effective method of treatment. The study found that steroids reduced the risk of death in the first month by about one-third for patients in need of extra oxygen. They reduce inflammation which can develop as the patient's immune system overreacts trying to fight the virus. That overreaction damages the lungs and can prove fatal.

"So we were able to pool data from eight clinical trials. A total over 7,000 patients that were randomized to corticosteroids or usual care and in that evidence synthesis we found the estimate of effect that you would have nine fewer deaths per 100 patients and if you translate this, it would take treating 14 patients to save one life," Dr. Janet Diaz, the head of clinical care for WHO's Health Emergencies Program, said. "So this is an important reduction, a life-saving reduction in mortality and a life-saving intervention."

This form of treatment is not recommended for patients with mild cases of COVID-19 according to the new guidelines.