Use of systemic steroids during pulmonary exacerbations in children and adolescent with Cystic fibrosis.

Abstract

To determine the role of systemic steroids in cystic fibrosis patients and its effects on pulmonary exacerbation in children and adolescents. The retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data from January 2015 to December 2019 of cystic fibrosis patients aged 3-18 years hospitalised with pulmonary exacerbations. The patients were divided into systemic steroid group A and non-systemic steroid group B. Patients in group A received parenteral steroids during acute exacerbation of cystic fibrosis in the first two weeks of admission, while those in group B did not receive systemic steroids. Length of hospital stay and number of days on oxygen support were compared between the groups. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. Of the 124 patient charts evaluated, 84(67.7%) were included; 40(47.6%) in group A and 44(52.4%) in group B. There were no significant differences between the groups related to age, age at diagnosis, weight, height, and pulmonary exacerbations (p>0.05). Group A had significantly fewer days on oxygen support compared to group B (p<0.001), but there was inter-group difference in mean length of hospital stay (p=0.53). Systemic steroid usage during hospitalisation for acute exacerbation of cystic fibrosis was associated with decreased duration of oxygen requirement with standard treatment.