Long-term inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) use for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may ease breathing but raise serious health risks.
Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids in COPD Treatment
Inhaled corticosteroids are often prescribed for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but are not the first choice unless the patient has asthma-COPD overlap or frequent flare-ups.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD includes respiratory tract disorders that cause obstruction to airflow. These are chronic bronchitis, emphysema and small airway disease.
COPD includes respiratory tract disorders that cause obstruction to airflow. These are chronic bronchitis, emphysema and small airway disease.
‘Did You Know?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients on long-term inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are nearly three times more likely to have repeated pneumonia cases. #inhaledcorticosteroids #chronicobstructivepulmonarydisease #COPD’
This study examined whether long-term ICS use (more than two years) increases the risk of serious health conditions compared with short-term use (less than 4 months). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients on long-term inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are nearly three times more likely to have repeated pneumonia cases. #inhaledcorticosteroids #chronicobstructivepulmonarydisease #COPD’
The findings of the study are published in the journal The Annals of Family Medicine (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Adverse Outcomes Associated With Inhaled Corticosteroid Use in Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Go to source).
Researchers analyzed electronic health records from over 20 million patients, focusing on individuals aged 45 and older with a COPD diagnosis. They created two groups: a prevalent cohort (patients diagnosed with COPD at any time) and an inception cohort (patients newly diagnosed with COPD). Using propensity score matching, they compared long-term ICS users with those with short-term use. Researchers examined the risk of developing both a composite outcome (any of five major conditions) and individual health outcomes for over 500,000 people.
COPD Patients Face Higher Fracture Risk From Long-Term Inhaled Corticosteroid Use
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who use inhaled corticosteroids to improve breathing for more than six months have a 27 percent increased risk of bone fractures.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who use inhaled corticosteroids to improve breathing for more than six months have a 27 percent increased risk of bone fractures.
Inhaled Corticosteroids: Health Risks
Overall Risk (Composite Outcome)
- Compared with those using ICS for a short time, long-term ICS users were more than twice as likely to develop at least one of the following conditions:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cataracts
- Pneumonia
- Osteoporosis
- Nontraumatic fractures
- Prevalent cohort (all COPD patients): risk was 165% higher Inception cohort (newly diagnosed COPD patients): risk was 160% higher Among newly diagnosed COPD patients, 1 in 5 long-term ICS users developed at least one of these conditions.
Recurrent Cases
- Some conditions were also analyzed for recurrent cases (meaning patients who developed them more than once):
- People on long-term ICS were nearly three times as likely to have repeated cases of pneumonia
- Fractures were also more likely to happen again
Individual Outcomes
Diabetes, cataracts, pneumonia, osteoporosis, and fractures were also more common in long-term ICS users before being combined into the composite outcome.
Why It Matters:
Many patients with COPD are prescribed ICS even when not medically necessary, exposing them to serious long-term risks.
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Inhalation Therapy: Simple, Easy Solution to Control Asthma This Winter
Are you suffering from asthma? Inhalation therapy can be the best and safest solution to control asthma attacks this winter, reveals a new study.
Are you suffering from asthma? Inhalation therapy can be the best and safest solution to control asthma attacks this winter, reveals a new study.
- Adverse Outcomes Associated With Inhaled Corticosteroid Use in Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - (https://www.annfammed.org/content/23/2/127)
Source-American Academy of Family Physicians
Corticosteroids may Actually Worsen Asthma
The mechanism behind corticosteroid resistance in severe asthma has been discovered by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences and UPMC.
The mechanism behind corticosteroid resistance in severe asthma has been discovered by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences and UPMC.
