Efficacy and safety of adjunctive corticosteroids in the treatment of severe community-acquired pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Table 3 Subgroup analysis of all-cause mortality

Subgroup	No. of study	No. of participant	Risk ratio	95% CI	I² (%)
Patients aged ≥ 60 years	6	1659	0.62	0.45 to 0.86	16
Septic shock status on enrollment
Presence (≤ 50%)	5	1625	0.61	0.42 to 0.90	30
Absence	1	795	0.53	0.33 to 0.84
Use of mechanical ventilation upon randomization	2	546	0.95	0.59 to 1.53	31
Definition of sCAP
ICU admission on randomization	6	1569	0.60	0.42 to 0.86	19
Meet ATS/IDSA criteria or PSI V	4	830	0.62	0.34 to 1.11	31
Type of corticosteroid
Hydrocortisone	5	985	0.48	0.30 to 0.72	0
Methylprednisolone	2	704	0.79	0.57 to 1.08	0
Corticosteroid tapering
No	6	1105	0.50	0.34 to 0.73	0
Yes	1	584	0.81	0.58 to 1.13
Duration of corticosteroid treatment
≤ 8 days	6	1105	0.50	0.34 to 0.73	0
> 8 days	1	584	0.81	0.58 to 1.13

sCAP, severe community-acquired pneumonia; ICU, intensive care unit; ATS/IDSA, American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America; PSI, pneumonia severity index

ISSN: 1364-8535