Oral Corticosteroid Use Research Articles

514 A retrospective observational study to assess the risk of select adverse events of special interest during oral corticosteroid use in bullous pemphigoid patients

514 A retrospective observational study to assess the risk of select adverse events of special interest during oral corticosteroid use in bullous pemphigoid patients

A Real-World Study of Achievement Rate and Predictive Factors of Clinical and Deep Remission to Biologics in Patients with Severe Asthma.

Recent advances in biologics have provided new insights into the clinical course of asthma, including disease modification, clinical remission (CR), and deep remission (DR). However, the extent to which biologics achieve CR and DR in severe asthma patients is poorly understood. To assess the achievement rate and predictors of CR and DR using long-term biologics, we retrospectively evaluated 54 severe asthma patients recently started on biologics. "CR" denotes the achievement of all three criteria: (1) absence of asthma symptoms, (2) no asthma exacerbations, and (3) no use of oral corticosteroids. DR denoted CR plus (4) normalized pulmonary function and (5) suppressed type 2 inflammation. CR and DR achievement rates were 68.5% and 31.5%, respectively. Compared with the non-deep remission group, the DR group had higher adult-onset asthma rates (94.1% vs. 70.3%, p = 0.078), shorter asthma duration (5 vs. 19 years, p = 0.006), and higher FEV1 (91.5% vs. 71.5%, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the Asthma Control Questionnaire scores, exacerbation frequency, or type 2 inflammation at baseline between groups. Asthma duration combined with FEV1 can stratify the achievement rates of CR and DR. the early introduction of biologics in severe asthma patients may help achieve CR and DR.

The Association Between Prolonged Use of Oral Corticosteroids and Mental Disorders: Do Steroids Have a Role in Developing Mental Disorders?

Background The use of oral corticosteroids has been linked to a variety of mental health problems, including mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis. In a recent study, researchers investigated the prevalence of steroid-induced neuropsychiatric side effects in a population of patients receiving steroid treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the association between steroids and mental disorders among patients in King Abdulaziz Medical City. Methods A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from January 2016 to November 2022.Data were acquired from all the registered inpatients and outpatients who were using oral corticosteroids for more than 28 days. Data were entered into the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY) for analysis after data collection. The numerical data were presented as mean and standard deviation and a test of significance was applied (p<0.05). For categorical data, frequency and percentages were computed. The chi-square test of significance was applied across groups and the test of significance was computed (p<0.05). Results The study included 3138 patients who were using oral corticosteroids for more than 28 days, and electronic medical records were screened for the presence of a concurrent mental disorder. Moreover, 142 out of 3138 developed a mental disorder after the prolonged use of oral corticosteroids. The most commonly reported mental disorder was anxiety followed by psychological sexual dysfunction and depressive disorders. Gender, age, and type of steroid prescribed had a significant association (p<0.001) with the development of psychiatric adverse events. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of monitoring patients who are receiving oral corticosteroid treatment for signs of mental health problems and adjusting treatment as needed. Healthcare providers should also educate patients about the potential risks associated with corticosteroids and encourage them to seek medical attention if they experience any mental health symptoms.

Remission outcomes in severe eosinophilic asthma with mepolizumab therapy: Analysis of the REDES study.

Clinical remission as a multicomponent treatment goal in severe asthma is being explored in clinical practice. This post hoc analysis used data from the REDES study to assess the proportion of patients with severe eosinophilic asthma achieving our multicomponent definitions of clinical remission after 1 year of mepolizumab treatment. The real-world, retrospective observational REDES study enrolled patients with severe eosinophilic asthma who were newly prescribed mepolizumab and with ≥12 months of medical records pre-enrolment. Multicomponent clinical remission was defined as: oral corticosteroid (OCS)-free; exacerbation-free; asthma control test (ACT) score ≥20; and with or without post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second ≥80%. Baseline characteristics were also assessed in those who did/did not achieve clinical remission. 37% and 30% of patients with severe eosinophilic asthma met our proposed three- and four-component on-treatment clinical remission definitions; an increase from 2% and 3% at baseline. Most frequently achieved individual components of clinical remission were: OCS-free; ACT score ≥20. For patients fulfilling the multicomponent clinical remission definitions, at baseline we observed higher blood eosinophil counts, better ACT scores and lung function, lower maintenance OCS use, and a slightly lower rate of prior exacerbations versus those who did not. Clinical remission is a realistic target in clinical practice for a subset of patients with severe eosinophilic asthma receiving mepolizumab. Further studies are required to elucidate whether features linked to the underlying endotype can help predict treatment outcomes, increase rates of clinical remission, and potentially modify disease progression.

A Charter to Fundamentally Change the Role of Oral Corticosteroids in the Management of Asthma.

Asthma affects 339 million people worldwide, with an estimated 5-10% experiencing severe asthma. In emergency settings, oral corticosteroids (OCS) can be lifesaving, but acute and long-term treatment can produce clinically important adverse outcomes and increase the risk of mortality. Therefore, global guidelines recommend limiting the use of OCS. Despite the risks, research indicates that 40-60% of people with severe asthma are receiving or have received long-term OCS treatment. Although often perceived as a low-cost option, long-term OCS use can result in significant health impairments and costs owing to adverse outcomes and increased utilization of healthcare resources. Alternative treatment methods, such as biologics, may produce cost-saving benefits with a better safety profile. A comprehensive and concerted effort is necessary to tackle the continued reliance on OCS. Accordingly, a threshold for OCS use should be established to help identify patients at risk of OCS-related adverse outcomes. Receiving a total dose of more than 500mg per year should trigger a review and specialist referral. Changes to national and local policies, following examples from other chronic diseases, will be crucial to achieving this goal. Globally, multiple barriers to change still exist, but specific steps have been identified to help clinicians reduce reliance on OCS. Implementing these changes will result in positive health outcomes for patients and social and economic benefits for societies.

Prolonged oral corticosteroid treatment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: An evaluation of 12-month economic and clinical burden.

BACKGROUND: Prolonged, high-dose corticosteroid treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with substantial health care costs, health care resource utilization (HCRU), and adverse events (AEs). OBJECTIVE: To compare all-cause health care costs, HCRU, and oral corticosteroid (OCS)-related AEs among patients with prevalent OCS use and patients without OCS use. METHODS: This retrospective, longitudinal cohort study (GSK study 214100) used claims data from the IQVIA Real-World Data Adjudicated Claims - US, IQVIA, Inc, database between January 1, 2006, and July 31, 2019, to identify patients with SLE. Patients with at least 1 OCS pharmacy claim during the study period and continuous OCS use during the 6-month pre-index (baseline) period (index date is the date of the first OCS claim following 6 months' continuous use) formed the "prevalent OCS use cohort." This cohort was subdivided based on the level of OCS exposure during the 12-month observation period, ie, the number of 6-month periods of greater than 5 mg/day OCS use (0, 1, or 2). Patients without OCS claims formed the "no OCS use cohort." All patients had continuous enrollment during the baseline and observation periods, had at least 1 inpatient or at least 2 outpatient SLE diagnosis codes during baseline, and were aged at least 5 years at index. A 2-part model, a generalized linear regression model with a negative binomial distribution, and a multivariate logistic regression model were used to compare health care costs, HCRU, and the odds of developing an OCS-related AE between cohorts, respectively. RESULTS: The no OCS use and prevalent OCS use cohorts included 21,517 and 16,209 patients, respectively. Adjusted health care cost differences (95% CI) were significantly lower for the no OCS use cohort vs all prevalent OCS use exposure categories ($5,439 [$4,537-$6,371] vs $17,856 [$16,368-$19,498]), driven by inpatient stays and outpatient visits; HCRU was also significantly lower (adjusted incidence rate ratios vs no OCS use cohort [95% CI]: 1.20 [1.16-1.23] vs 1.47 [1.41-1.52]). Health care costs and HCRU increased with increasing length of OCS exposure. OCS-related AEs occurred more frequently for all prevalent OCS use exposure categories vs the no OCS use cohort (odds ratio [95% CI]: 1.39 [1.25-1.55] vs 2.32 [2.02-2.68]), driven by hematologic/oncologic and immune system-related AEs. The mean (SD) average daily dose of OCS increased with increasing periods of prevalent OCS use (2.5 [1.3], 6.9 [31.1], and 34.6 [1,717.3] mg/day, respectively, for patients with 0, 1, and 2 periods of OCS use). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalent OCS use incurs a substantial clinical and economic burden, highlighting the need for restricted OCS doses and durations. DISCLOSURES: This study (GSK Study 214100) was funded by GSK. GSK was involved in designing the study, contributing to the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data, supporting the authors in the development of the manuscript, and funding the medical writing assistance. All authors, including those employed by GSK, approved the content of the submitted manuscript and were involved in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Dr DerSarkissian, Dr Duh, and Mr Benson are employees of Analysis Group, which received research funding from GSK to conduct this study. Dr Wang, Ms Gu, and Mr Vu are former employees of Analysis Group. Mr Bell is an employee of GSK and holds stocks and shares in the company. Ms Averell and Dr Huang are former employees of GSK and held stocks and shares in the company at the time of the study.

Evaluation of the Clinical Features and Laboratory Data of Patients with Severe Eosinophilic Asthma Classified as Super-Responders, Partial Responders, or Nonresponders to Mepolizumab Treatment: A Real-Life Study

Introduction: Mepolizumab is a treatment option in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, which inhibits interleukin-5. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and laboratory data of patients with severe eosinophilic asthma who were classified as super-responders, partial responders, or nonresponders to mepolizumab treatment. Methods: In this retrospective real-life study, the clinical features and laboratory data were compared between groups of patients with severe eosinophilic asthma who were classified as super-responders, partial responders, or nonresponders to mepolizumab treatment. Results: Evaluation was made of a total of 55 patients, comprising 17 (30.9%) males and 38 (69.1%) females with a mean age of 51.28 ± 14.32 years. All the patients were receiving mepolizumab treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma, with 17 (30.9%) patients evaluated as super-responders, 26 (47.3%) as partial responders, and 12 (21.8%) as nonresponders. After mepolizumab treatment, there was a statistically significant decrease in asthma exacerbations, the number of oral corticosteroids (OCSs) used, the rate of hospitalization due to asthma attacks, and the eosinophil count (cells/µL) (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and <0.001, respectively). A statistically significant increase was determined in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) value (p = 0.010) and asthma control test (ACT) score (p < 0.001) after mepolizumab treatment. The baseline eosinophil count, eosinophil/lymphocyte ratio and FEV1 (%) values were significantly higher in the super-responder and partial responder groups (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, and p = 0.002, respectively). The baseline ACT score and the rate of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps were significantly higher in the partial responder group (p = 0.004, p = 0.015, respectively). The rate of regular OCS use before mepolizumab treatment was significantly higher in the nonresponder group (p = 0.049). As a result of the receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, the blood eosinophil count (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.967, p < 0.001), eosinophil/lymphocyte ratio (AUC: 0.921, p < 0.001), and FEV1 (%) (AUC: 0.828, p = 0.002) were found to have diagnostic value in predicting the response to mepolizumab treatment in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma. Conclusion: Baseline eosinophil count, eosinophil/lymphocyte ratio, and FEV1 (%) were found to be important predictors of response to mepolizumab treatment. Further studies are needed to define the characterization of mepolizumab responders in the real world.

Evaluation of the clinical features and laboratory data of patients with severe asthma classified as super-responder or non super-responder to omalizumab treatment: a single-center real-life study

Introduction Omalizumab is used for the treatment of severe allergic asthma. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and laboratory data of patients with severe allergic asthma classified as super-responder or non super-responder to omalizumab. Methods Comparisons were made of the laboratory data and clinical features of patients with severe allergic asthma. Patients who had no asthma exacerbation, no oral corticosteroid (OCS) use, asthma control test (ACT) score >20 and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) >80% were considered super-responder after omalizumab. Results A total of 90 patients were included in the study, comprising 19 (21.1%) males. The age at onset of asthma, allergic rhinitis rate, number of endoscopic sinus surgeries (ESS), intranasal corticosteroid (INS) use, baseline FEV 1 (%) and ACT score were significantly higher in the omalizumab super-responder group (p = 0.013, p = 0.015, p = 0.002, p = 0.001, p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The duration of asthma, rate of Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP), regular use of OCS, baseline eosinophil count and eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were significantly higher in the omalizumab non super-responder group (p = 0.015, p < 0.001, p = 0.004, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Blood eosinophil count (AUC: 0.187, p < 0.001), eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (AUC: 0.150, p < 0.001) and FEV1 (%) (AUC:0.779, p = 0.001) were determined to have diagnostic value in predicting the treatment response to omalizumab of patients with severe allergic asthma. Conclusion High-blood eosinophil levels, CRSwNP and low pretreatment lung capacity may affect omalizumab treatment response in patients with severe allergic asthma. These results should be supported by further multicenter real-life studies.

Randomised controlled trial for the titration of oral corticosteroids using markers of inflammation in severe asthma

IntroductionBiomarkers are used to select biologic therapies for patients with severe asthma, but not to regularly adjust therapy, especially oral corticosteroids (OCS).ObjectiveOur goal was to test the efficacy of an...

Oral Corticosteroids for Patients with Eosinophilic Diseases: An Expert Panel View on Use, Overuse, and Strategies to Reduce Use

Severe asthma (SA), chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) are three conditions driven by IL-5 and eosinophilic inflammation. As these conditions have high use of healthcare services, as well as lifestyle and psychological burdens, safe treatment to achieve optimal control is key. In all three conditions, as for many other eosinophilic diseases (ED), oral corticosteroids (OCS) are often used for both acute and maintenance treatment where disease activity is high. While, in general, OCS are very effective, their use is limited by a well-recognised high potential for adverse effects (AE). Moreover, cumulative exposure to OCS may not be acknowledged in many patients, especially for those predominantly treated in primary care, exposing patients to potentially damaging long-term OCS-related AEs. To discuss the use of OCS for these eosinophilic diseases, as well as to provide guidance on how to help limit their use, a board of European experts within each field was gathered. The experts completed questionnaires regarding treatment and referral pathways for patients with SA, CRSwNP, or EGPA; then, in an online meeting, discussed a number of issues in regard to OCS use. Here, the authors present the key recommendations from the expert advisory panel alongside some background to these conditions regarding treatment with OCS.

Cost-Effectiveness of Mepolizumab Add-On in the Treatment of Severe Eosinophilic Asthma in Chile

ObjectiveAsthma is one of the 4 leading causes of death worldwide. Severe asthma is associated with poor quality of life, decreased life expectancy, and higher health resources consumption such as the use of oral corticosteroids (OCSs). This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of mepolizumab as an add-on compared with the standard care of the Chilean public health system (combined inhaled corticosteroid therapy and a long-acting beta-agonist, short-acting beta-agonist, and OCS). Materials and MethodsA Markov model was adapted to represent the day-to-day of patients with severe asthma over a lifetime horizon. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to account for the second-order uncertainty of the model. In addition, a risk subgroup analysis was conducted to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of mepolizumab across different risk populations. ResultsMepolizumab produces more benefits than standard of care alone (1 additional quality-adjusted life-year, a decrease of OCS usage, an approximated 11 avoided exacerbations) but it cannot be considered cost-effective in the light of the Chilean threshold (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio: US dollars [USD] 105 967/quality-adjusted life-year vs USD 14 896). Despite this, cost-effectiveness increases in specific subgroups, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of USD 44 819 in patients with eosinophil count ≥ 300 cell/mcL and exacerbation history of at least 4 exacerbations in the past year. ConclusionMepolizumab cannot be considered a cost-effective strategy for the Chilean health system. Nevertheless, price discount in specific subgroups improves its cost-effectiveness profile significantly and may offer opportunities for access to specific subgroups.

Application of an algorithm to analyze patterns of intermittent oral corticosteroid use in asthma

An algorithm to describe patterns of intermittent oral corticosteroid use in the UK (n = 476,167) found that one-third of patients receiving intermittent oral corticosteroids for asthma only had short gaps (<90 days) between oral corticosteroid prescriptions sometime during follow-up. The increasing frequency pattern was more likely in patients with greater asthma severity and with more short-acting β2-agonist use at baseline. Our approach may provide a clinically relevant representation of intermittent oral corticosteroid use in asthma.

Inhaled Corticosteroids in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Risk of Acquiring Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection. A Multiregional Epidemiological Study.

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are associated with an increased risk of clinical pneumonia among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is unknown whether the risk of microbiologically verified pneumonia such as pneumococcal pneumonia is increased in ICS users. The study population consists of all COPD patients followed in outpatient clinics in eastern Denmark during 2010-2017. ICS use was categorized into four categories based on accumulated use. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used adjusting for age, body mass index, sex, airflow limitation, use of oral corticosteroids, smoking, and year of cohort entry. A propensity score matched analysis was performed for sensitivity analyses. A total of 21,438 patients were included. Five hundred and eighty-two (2.6%) patients acquired a positive lower airway tract sample withS. pneumoniaeduring follow-up. In the multivariable analysis ICS-use was associated with a dose-dependent risk ofS. pneumoniae as follows:low ICS dose: HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.84 to 1.45, p = 0.5; moderate ICS dose: HR 1.47, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.90, p = 0.004; high ICS dose: HR 1.77, 95% CI 1.38 to 2.29, p < 0.0001, compared to no ICS use. Sensitivity analyses confirmed these results. Use of ICS in patients with severe COPD was associated with an increased and dose-dependent risk of acquiringS. pneumoniae, but only for moderate and high dose. Caution should be taken when administering high dose of ICS to patients with COPD. Low dose of ICS seemed not to carry this risk.

Comparison of 300 mg versus 600 mg daily maintenance doses of aspirin treatment after desensitization in N-ERD: A three-year multicentre experience

Background: Aspirin treatment after desensitization (ATAD) is effective in preventing nasal polyps recurrence as well as respiratory symptoms in patients with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-exacerbated respiratory diseases (N-ERD). However, there is no consensus on effective daily maintenance doses in ATAD. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of two different maintenance doses of aspirin on clinical outcomes for 1-3 years of ATAD. Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter study that involved four tertiary centers. The maintenance doses of daily aspirin were 300 mg in one center and 600 mg in the remaining three. The data of patients who were on ATAD for 1-3 years were included. Study outcomes (nasal surgeries, sinusitis, asthma attacks, hospitalization, oral corticosteroid use, and medication uses) were assessed in a standardized way and recorded from case files. Results: The study initially included 125 subjects, 38 and 87 were receiving 300 and 600 mg daily aspirin for ATAD, respectively. Number of nasal polyp surgeries decreased after 1 -3 years compared with before ATAD in both groups (group 1, baseline: 0.44 ± 0.07 versus first year: 0.08 ± 0.05; p < 0.001 and baseline: 0.44 ± 0.07 versus 3rd year: 0.01 ± 0.01; p < 0.001; and group 2, baseline 0.42 ± 0.03 versus first year: 0.02 ± 0.02; p < 0.001 and baseline: 0.42 ± 0.03 versus 3rd year: 0.07 ± 0.03; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Given the comparable effects of 300 mg and 600 mg aspirin daily as maintenance treatment of ATAD on both asthma and sinonasal outcomes in N-ERD, our results suggest using 300 mg of aspirin daily in ATAD owing to its better safety profile.

MODUS OPERANDI FOR THE TREATMENT OF FROZEN SHOULDER: A NOVEL APPROACH

Introduction: Frozen shoulder is a self-limiting condition which can sometimes last for up to 2 years. The objective of this study was to show the result of combined use of oral corticosteroids, vitamin C, analgesics, glycaemic control and physiotherapy (AAROM) and compare the results with intraarticular injection of corticosteroids. Methods: 70 patients aged 28 to 63 years were chosen at the beginning of the study. They had been suffering from frozen shoulder from 2 weeks to 1 year (mean 5.7 months) and 12 patients had diabetes. They were managed with strict glycaemic control and Vit. C tablets twice a day for 1 week along with adequate anti-inflammatory treatment. Out of the 54 patients,18 were given 15 mg Prednisolone BD was given for 2 weeks aided by Vit. C and anti-inflammatory drugs,18 were give oral prednisolone(0.5mg/kg/day) alone and the remaining were treated with intraarticular injections. Physiotherapy was started after 1 week in everyone and continued till pain relief was achieved or till 10 weeks.4 patients were lost to follow up. The ROM, the duration of the pain and the severity of the pain (assessed with VAS and McGill Pain Questionnaire) were the main parameters used. Results: The outcomes of combined therapy for frozen shoulder were better if the patients were subjected to physiotherapy after 1 week of starting oral steroids compared to intraarticular injection/oral use of corticosteroids alone.However, in diabetic patients, the outcomes were better with the use of intraarticular injection of corticosteroids and glycaemic control was required for pain relief and improving ROM.

Rethinking the relationships between chronic rhinosinusitis and asthma severity

BackgroundPrevious authors have endorsed the need for prospective studies on the effect of treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis on asthma outcomes. Although common pathophysiology for asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has been suggested with the unified airway theory, there is limited data to support the claim and our study does not support the theory. MethodsThis case-control study involved adult patients with a primary diagnosis of asthma in 2019 who were identified from the electronic medical records and divided into those with and without an associated CRS diagnosis. For each asthma encounter, the asthma severity classification, oral corticosteroid (OCS) use and oxygen saturation scores were tabulated and compared between asthma patients with CRS versus control patients after 1:1 matching on age and sex.We determined the association between asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis when evaluating proxies for disease severity: oral corticosteroid use, average oxygen saturation and minimum oxygen saturation. We identified 1321 clinical encounters for asthma associated with CRS and 1321 control encounters for asthma without CRS. ResultsOCS prescription rates at the asthma encounter were not statistically different between the groups (15.3 % and 14.6 %, respectively; p = 0.623). Asthma severity classification was higher in those with CRS versus those without (38.9 % and 25.7 % classified as severe, respectively; p < 0.001).We identified 637 asthma with CRS and 637 matched control patients. There was no significant difference in mean recorded O2 saturations between asthma patients with CRS versus control patients (mean O2 saturations, 97.2 % and 97.3 %, respectively; p = 0.816) nor in minimum oxygen saturation (96.8 % and 97.0 %, respectively; p = 0.115). ConclusionAmong patients with a primary diagnosis of asthma an increasing severity of asthma classification was significantly associated with an associated diagnosis of CRS. In contradistinction, the presence of CRS comorbidity in asthma patients was not associated with increased OCS use for asthma. Similarly, average oxygen saturation and minimum oxygen saturation did not seem differ according to CRS comorbidity. Our study does not support the unified airway theory that suggests a causative relationship between the upper and lower airway.

Clinical Outcomes After Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids or Oral Steroids in a COVID-19 Telemedicine Clinic Cohort: Retrospective Chart Review.

COVID-19 concerns remain among health care providers, as there are few outpatient treatment options. In the early days of the pandemic, treatment options for nonhospitalized patients were limited, and symptomatic treatment and home-grown guidelines that used recommendations from the Global Initiative for Asthma Management and Treatment were used. The possibility that inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) might reduce the risk of respiratory symptoms and promote recovery was the impetus for this review, as it has already been shown that in the nonhospitalized patient population, oral corticosteroids (OCS) in the acute phase could have an adverse effect on recovery. We investigated if (1) patients treated with ICS were less likely to require referral to a post-COVID-19 clinic or pulmonary specialist than patients without ICS treatment or with OCS therapy, and (2) if OCS use was associated with worse health outcomes. In a retrospective chart review, we identified all patients with acute illness due to COVID-19 that were followed and managed by a telemedicine clinic team between June and December 2020. The data were electronically pulled from electronic medical records through April 2021 and reviewed to determine which patients eventually required referral to a post-COVID-19 clinic or pulmonary specialist due to persistent respiratory symptoms of COVID-19. The data were then analyzed to compare outcomes between patients prescribed OCS and those prescribed ICS. We specifically looked at patients treated acutely with ICS or OCS that then required referral to a pulmonary specialist or post-COVID-19 clinic. We excluded any patients with a history of chronic OCS or ICS use for any reason. Prescribing ICS during the acute phase did not reduce the possibility of developing persistent symptoms. There was no difference in the referral rate to a pulmonary specialist or post-COVID-19 clinic between patients treated with OCS versus ICS. However, our data may not be generalizable to other populations, as it represents a patient population enrolled in a telemedicine program at a single center. We found that ICS, as compared to OCS, did not reduce the risk of developing persistent respiratory symptoms. This finding adds to the body of knowledge that ICS and OCS medications remain potent treatments in patients with acute and postacute COVID-19 seen in an outpatient setting.

Recommendations from a Canadian Delphi consensus study on best practice for optimal referral and appropriate management of severe asthma

BackgroundIn Canada, severe asthma affects an estimated 5–10% of people with asthma and is associated with frequent exacerbations, poor symptom control and significant morbidity from the disease itself, as well as the high dose inhaled, and systemic steroids used to treat it. Significant heterogeneity exists in service structure and patient access to severe asthma care, including access to biologic treatments. There appears to be over-reliance on short-acting beta agonists and frequent oral corticosteroid use, two indicators of uncontrolled asthma which can indicate undiagnosed or suboptimally treated severe asthma. The objective of this modified Delphi consensus project was to define standards of care for severe asthma in Canada, in areas where the evidence is lacking through patient and healthcare professional consensus, to complement forthcoming guidelines.MethodsThe steering group of asthma experts identified 43 statements formed from eight key themes. An online 4-point Likert scale questionnaire was sent to healthcare professionals working in asthma across Canada to assess agreement (consensus) with these statements. Consensus was defined as high if ≥ 75% and very high if ≥ 90% of respondents agreed with a statement.ResultsA total of 150 responses were received from HCPs including certified respiratory educators, respirologists, allergists, general practitioners/family physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and respiratory therapists. Consensus amongst respondents was very high in 37 (86%) statements, high in 4 (9%) statements and was not achieved in 2 (5%) statements. Based on the consensus scores, ten key recommendations were proposed. These focus on referrals from primary and secondary care, accessing specialist asthma services, homecare provision for severe asthma patients and outcome measures.ConclusionsImplementation of these recommendations across the severe asthma care pathway in Canada has the potential to improve outcomes for patients through earlier detection of undiagnosed severe asthma, reduction in time to severe asthma diagnosis, and initiation of advanced phenotype specific therapies.

Influence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on long-term hospitalization and mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

BackgroundHeart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) can coexist with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which complicates the clinical situation and worsens quality of life. The study used standard diagnostic criteria for detecting COPD in hospitalized HFrEF patients and to survey the influence of other comorbidities and medications on the long-term outcomes of HFrEF + COPD patients.MethodsWe retrospectively recruited patients hospitalized due to HFrEF in a tertiary medical center and examined and followed up clinical outcomes, including length of hospital stay, mortality, and readmission episodes, for a 5-year period. Risk factors for mortality were analyzed using multivariate analysis.ResultsOf the 118 hospitalized HFrEF study participants, 68 had concurrent COPD whereas 50 did not. There was a significant increase in the male predominance, smoking history, higher hemoglobin level and increased length of hospital stay in the HF + COPD group than in the HF-only group. Lower left ventricular ejection fraction was found in the HF and COPD comorbidity group. In multivariate analysis, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEI/ARB) use independently associated with a beneficial effect on survival in HF patients with COPD. Oral corticosteroid uses and stroke as a comorbidity were independently associated with a shorter time to the first readmission episode.ConclusionIn HFrEF patients, COPD was associated with a prolonged length of hospital stay. ACEI/ARB use might relate to a beneficial effect on survival in HF patients with COPD. The use of maintenance oral corticosteroid in patients with both HF and COPD should be crucially evaluated to determine the clinical benefit and disadvantages.

Criteria for evaluation of response to biologics in severe asthma - the Biologics Asthma Response Score (BARS)

The introduction of monoclonal antibodies (biologics) has revolutionized the therapy of severe asthma. Even though there is a response in the majority of patients, the degree of response varies. To date criteria for assessment of response to biologics are not consistently defined. To define criteria for evaluation of response to biologics that are precise, simple and suitable for daily use in order to guide decision-making regarding continuation, switching or stopping of biological therapy. 8 physicians with large experience in this indication, supported by a data-scientist, developed a consensus on criteria to evaluate response to biologics in patients with severe asthma. We developed a combined score based on current literature, own experience and practicability. It uses the main criteria exacerbations, oral corticosteroid (OCS) therapy and asthma control (asthma control test, ACT). We defined thresholds for "good response", "response" and "insufficient response" rated with a score of "2", "1" and "0" respectively: annual exacerbations ("0 or reduction ≥ 75 %", reduction 50-74 %", "reductio < 50 %"), daily OCS dose ("stopping or reduction ≥ 75 %", "reduction 50-74 %", "reduction < 50 %"), asthma control (ACT increase ≥ 6 or ≥ 3 with result ≥ 20", "ACT increase 3-5 with result < 20", "ACT increase < 3"). Additional individual criteria like lung function and comorbidities may be important for evaluation of response. We propose 3, 6 and 12 months timepoint for assessment of tolerability and response. Using the combined score, we developed a scheme to guide the decision whether switching the biologic should be considered. The Biologic Asthma Response Score (BARS) serves as objective and simple tool to evaluate response to biologic therapy using the three main criteria exacerbations, OCS use and asthma control. A validation of the score was initiated.