Systemic, but not inhaled, corticosteroids associated with higher fracture risk in pediatric asthma patients
TUESDAY, Nov. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Inhaled corticosteroids are not associated with increased odds of fracture in the pediatric asthma population, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Natasha Gray, M.P.H., from The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and colleagues used health administrative data to identify 19,420 children (aged 2 to 18 years) with a physician diagnosis of asthma between April 1, 2003, and March 31, 2014, who were eligible for public drug coverage. Cases with a first fracture after asthma diagnosis were matched to fracture-free controls (1-to-4 ratio) based on date of birth, sex, and age at asthma diagnosis.
The researchers found that there was not a significant association between first fracture after asthma diagnosis and current use, recent use, or past use of inhaled corticosteroids versus no use after adjustment for sociodemographic factors and other medication use. However, there were greater odds of fracture (odds ratio, 1.17) with use of systemic corticosteroids in the one-year lookback period.
“Systemic corticosteroids, but not inhaled corticosteroids, were significantly associated with increased odds of fracture in the pediatric asthma population,” conclude the authors.
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