Clinical benefits of corticosteroid administration during adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A systemic review and meta-analysis

Efficacy and safety of corticosteroid therapy in patients with cardiac arrest: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The clinical benefits of steroid therapy during cardiac arrest (CA) are unclear. Several recent clinical trials have shown that administering corticosteroid therapy during CA may improve patient outcomes. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether providing corticosteroids improves outcomes for patients following CA.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and CNKI databases for randomized controlled trials comparing corticosteroid therapy to placebo during CA.

RESULTS

Eleven relevant studies involving a total of 2273 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The statistical analysis showed that corticosteroid treatment during CA was significantly associated with an increased rate of sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (OR: 2.05, 95% CI: 1.24 to 3.37, P < 0.01). Corticosteroid treatment during CA did not show a significant benefit in favorable neurological outcomes (OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.81 to 1.58, P = 0.49) or overall survival rate at hospital discharge (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 0.74 to 2.26, P = 0.38). However, in the subgroup analysis, we found that patients had a significantly increased survival rate and ROSC if the dose of corticosteroid therapy above 100 mg methylprednisolone. The statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in adverse events.

CONCLUSION

High-dose corticosteroid treatment (above 100 mg methylprednisolone) is associated with better overall survival rate at hospital discharge and ROSC outcomes. However, there is uncertainty regarding whether this treatment results in a benefit or harm to the favorable neurological outcomes at hospital discharge.

Effect of corticosteroid administration on cardiac arrest: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of the timing of administration

Corticosteroids may have a beneficial effect on the outcome of cardiac arrest (CA); however, it is not known whether the timing of corticosteroid use affects the outcome. We performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of corticosteroid administration according to the timing. A favorable final outcome, as the primary study outcome, was defined as a combination of survival with good neurologic outcome and survival for 1 year. The secondary outcome was survival to discharge. Nine clinical studies were included. Corticosteroids administered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR; odds ratio [OR], 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-1.51) and post-CA (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.30-1.66) had a positive effect on the favorable final outcome compared to the control protocol (no corticosteroid administration), while those used prior to CA had a negative effect. Corticosteroids administered post-CA had a positive effect on survival to discharge compared to the control protocol (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.02-3.27), while those used prior to CA and during CPR had no significant effect. Post-CA was evaluated to be the best administration timing for both outcomes. In conclusion, the timing of corticosteroid administration may be an important factor for the prognosis of CA. Corticosteroids administration post-CA and during CPR may have beneficial effects on CA outcomes.