Inhaled budesonide, a common corticosteroid used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, can shorten the time it takes for people not admitted to the hospital to recover from COVID-19 by three days, a trial in people over 50 at greater risk of COVID-19 and people aged over 65 has identified.

Among patients who completed all 28 days of treatment by march 25, 8.5% of those who had budesonide were hospitalized, compared with 10.3% who received usual care. To be clear, inhaled budesonide is NOT YET RECOMMENDED as a standard of care however it can be considered off-label on a case-by-case basis for symptomatic COVID-19 positive patients over 65 years old or over 50 years old with comorbidities.

Yet another study with promising results for treating COVID-19. That light at the end of the tunnel is definitely getting brighter and soon we will look back on these days as a test of our will and strength. Hang in there, we are almost there! Stay well, mask up and stay tuned!