Short- and long-term oral steroid therapy in patients with asthma exacerbation


Çakmak M. E., Kaya S. B., Bostan Ö. C., DAMADOĞLU E., KARAKAYA G., KALYONCU A. F.

Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease, vol.93, no.1, 2023 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Abstract
  • Volume: 93 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.4081/monaldi.2022.2209
  • Journal Name: Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Keywords: asthma, Corticosteroids, disease exacerbation, long-term care, short-term course
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© Copyright: the Author(s), 2022.Steroids are frequently used for symptom control in cases of asthma exacerbation. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of short-term and long-term oral steroid therapy on symptom control in patients with asthma exacerbation. Patients that received short-term (<10 d) and long-term (≥10 d) oral steroid therapy during asthma exacerbation were compared retrospectively. A visual analog scale (VAS) for symptom severity was administered, and the asthma control test (ACT) and pulmonary function tests were performed before and after treatment. The study included 69 patients and the overall mean duration of steroid treatment was 9.57±3.58 d (range: 5-25 d). Mean duration of short-term and long-term steroid treatment was 6.54±0.99 d and 11.63±3.21 d, respectively. Serious side-effects were not observed following oral steroid therapy. Post the short- and long-term oral steroid therapy there were not any significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of ACT, FEV1 (forced expiratory volume 1), or VAS symptom scores. The findings show that in patients with mild asthma exacerbation short-term oral steroid therapy is as effective as long-term steroid therapy and can be safely used for symptom control during periods of mild asthma exacerbation.