Efficacy and safety of corticosteroids for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

•Guidelines provide differing recommendations on the role of adjunctive corticosteroids in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).•This study provides robust evidence that corticosteroids reduce the risk of all-cause mortality in CAP patients.•This benefit is more pronounced in severe CAP, younger patients, and hydrocortisone therapy.•Further large-scale RCTs are required to confirm the subpopulations likely to benefit the most.