- 1- underlying disease requiring chronic corticosteroids 2- any dose of dexamethasone during the present hospital stay for covid-19 for ≥5 days before enrollment 3- systemic corticosteroids during present hospital stay for conditions other than covid-19 (e.g. septic shock) 4-any contraindication for corticosteroid administration 5-cardiac arrest before icu admission 6-pregnancy or breast feeding 7- immunocompromised patients as cancer (active) patients, patients on chemotherapy or radiotherapy, hiv, and transplant patients

- 1- underlying disease requiring chronic corticosteroids 2- any dose of dexamethasone during the present hospital stay for covid-19 for ≥5 days before enrollment 3- systemic corticosteroids during present hospital stay for conditions other than covid-19 (e.g. septic shock) 4-any contraindication for corticosteroid administration 5-cardiac arrest before icu admission 6-pregnancy or breast feeding 7- immunocompromised patients as cancer (active) patients, patients on chemotherapy or radiotherapy, hiv, and transplant patients