Lung disease experts at Johns Hopkins have recommended a call for following greater caution while prescribing inhaled corticosteroids to people suffering from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

The call was made immediately after it was found that some of the most commonly used anti-inflammatory medications used to treat COPD can increase the risk of pneumonia by a full third.

From News-Medical.Net:

Despite the increased pneumonia risk, the team found no clear evidence that the drug therapy also pushes up rates for other steroid-related problems, such as bone fractures, nor was there an increase in deaths.

Senior study investigator and critical care specialist Eddy Fan, M.D., says the results of the analysis should not alarm patients or cause them to stop taking their medications but should spur physicians to screen and monitor their patients to find the lowest possible steroid dose that works, especially in the elderly, people with immune system problems, and people who have had multiple bouts of pneumonia and for whom repeat bacterial infection might be a life-threatening complication.

“Inhaled corticosteroids are not of equal benefit to all, and what we are seeing is that the treatment may be more harmful and pose a greater risk of harm to some,” says Fan, an instructor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Pulmonologist M. Brad Drummond, M.D., M.H.S., who led the study, remarked that the findings of this study are believed to serve as an urgent reminder to all those patients with severe lung disease to take necessary steps for reducing the risk of catching pneumonia, which can double their risk of dying.

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Tags: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, corticosteroids, inhaled corticosteroids, pneumonia

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