<![CDATA[Community-acquired pneumonia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality despite antibiotic therapy. Corticosteroids may modulate excessive inflammatory responses by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, but their clinical utility remains controversial. To evaluate the effect of adjunctive corticosteroid therapy on length of hospital stay and clinical parameters in community-acquired pneumonia patients. This retrospective observational study analyzed medical records of 59 community-acquired pneumonia patients at Hospital X, Bandar Lampung, during 2023. Patients were categorized into steroid (n=39) and non-steroid (n=20) groups. Clinical parameters including fever, cough, dyspnea, respiratory rate, and length of hospital stay were compared using chi-square analysis. Significant differences were observed in length of stay (p=0.044), dyspnea resolution (p=0.022), and respiratory rate normalization (p=0.042), with the steroid group showing longer durations. No significant differences were found in fever (p=0.653) and cough resolution (p=0.679). Adjunctive corticosteroid therapy did not demonstrate clinical benefit in this population and was associated with prolonged hospital stay, suggesting the need for careful patient selection and standardized protocols.]]>
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