The effect of combination of selenium, vitamin C and methylprednisolone in acute respiratory distress syndrome mortality and morbidity from COVID 19 in ICU

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected almost 2.5 million people worldwide. Patients present with a wide range of disease severity and specific comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, immunosuppression, and age have been associated with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, there is a need for more targeted treatments. The evidence is weak that micronutrients are involved in the course and outcome of Covid-19 However, based on experience with SARS and other viral infections, dietary supplements administered early in the course of infection have been reported to be beneficial in enhancing host resistance to RNA virus infections, which may include severe COVID-19. Therefore, we decided to investigate using the combined treatment of selenium, vitamin C, and methylprednisolone as a cocktail therapy in Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients caused by covid. Methods: In this study, patients were divided into two groups. Group A under routine treatments of the intensive care unit based on the country's protocol for covid-19 patients. Group B underwent routine intensive care unit treatments based on the country's protocol for covid-19 patients, plus selenium, vitamin C and methylprednisolone cocktail therapy for 7 days (range 0 to 11 days) after hospitalization and the onset of symptoms. We registered demographic information, type of respiratory support used, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in ICU, received dose of vasopressor, plateau pressure, mechanical index, mortality, need for fluid replacement treatments. Results: Combined treatment of selenium, vitamin C, and methylprednisolone as a cocktail therapy in ARDS patients caused by covid was effective in reducing the days of hospitalization in the ICU and the days of ventilator dependence and improving oxygenation and reduced the death rate