Dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory steroid that is already widely available, has been approved to treat all hospitalised patients across the British Isles requiring oxygen, including those on ventilators, effective immediately.
Adequate stocks of the drug are already held in Jersey, with more available via the NHS supply chain if needed, and guidelines are currently being devised for its safe use.
The announcement comes after researchers from the Recovery study of UK patients found that dexamethasone cut the risk of death by 35 per cent for patients on ventilators and reduced morality rates by 20 per cent for those on oxygen support.
These findings were described as ‘statistically significant’ by researchers, who have called for it to now become a ‘standard of care’ in Covid-19 patients on ventilators or oxygen.
Health Minister Richard Renouf said: ‘I am very pleased to learn of this significant development in the treatment of the coronavirus. Our close links with the NHS mean that learning will be shared as we begin to treat those patients needing dexamethasone.
‘It is important to note that it is only for patients requiring ventilation and who are already being treated at the General Hospital.
‘While we only have one patient with Covid-19 in the Hospital, it is nonetheless an important breakthrough and will provide Islanders with further reassurance that they will receive the very best care and attention from our dedicated nurses and doctors.’
Researchers estimate that if they had known what they now know about dexamethasone at the start of the pandemic, 4,000 to 5,000 lives could have been saved. They added that based on their results, one death would be prevented by treatment in around eight patients on ventilators, or around one in every 25 patients requiring oxygen alone.
Jersey’s Deputy Medical Director Paul Hughes added: ‘While these interim results from the Recovery study are encouraging, the full study data has not been released and the research has not yet gone through peer review. While we will not delay the use of this drug in patients who may benefit, we must be vigilant for side effects that may emerge as more patients are treated.’
