Corticosteroid Injections and COVID-19 Infection Risk

• Authors: David C. Miller, Napa Pain Institute; Jaymin Patel, Emory University; Jatinder Gill, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Ryan Mattie, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; Mathew Saffarian, Michigan State University; Byron J. Schneider, Vanderbilt University; Adrian Popescu, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; Vivek Babaria, Orange County Spine and Sports; Zachary L. McCormick, University of Utah
• Journal Title: Pain medicine
• Volume: Volume 21, Number 8
• Publisher: Oxford University Press | 2020-08-01, Pages 1703-1706
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnaa199
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Immunology
• Keywords: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; Humans; Injections, Epidural; Injections, Intra-Articular; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Risk Factors

Abstract

Myth: Epidural and intra-articular steroid injections have no effect on the risk of contracting COVID-19 infection. Fact: There is low-quality evidence that a single intra-articular corticosteroid injection may increase the risk of contracting the influenza virus. No study has yet been published that examines whether a corticosteroid injection increases the risk of contracting COVID-19 or alters the clinical course of a subsequent infection. While caution is advised based on this indirect evidence, more studies are needed to determine full correlation of corticosteroid administration and risks of contracting COVID-19.