Inhaled Corticosteroids and Risk of Recurrent Pneumonia: Population Based Nested Case Control Study.
Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Jul 19;
Authors: Eurich DT, Lee C, Marrie TJ, Majumdar SR
Abstract
Background. Studies have suggested an increased risk of pneumonia with inhaled corticosteroid use (ICS), although this association is inconsistent. We evaluated the risk of recurrent pneumonia associated with ICS in a high-risk population who survived an episode of pneumonia. Methods. Clinical and 5-year follow-up data were collected on all adults 65 years and older with pneumonia over 2 years. Using a nested case-control design, first cases [patients with recurrent pneumonia ≥30 days after initial episode] and then controls [free of pneumonia and matched on age, sex, and COPD] were identified. ICS use was classified as never, past (remote, only before initial pneumonia), or current. Our primary outcome measure was recurrent pneumonia assessed using conditional multivariate logistic regression after adjustment of demographics and clinical data. Results. During 5-years follow-up, 653 recurrent pneumonia cases were matched with 6244 controls; mean age was 79 (SD 8) years, 3577 (52%) were male, 2652 (38%) had COPD, and 2294 (33%) ever used ICS. Overall, 123 of 870 (14%) current ICS users had recurrent pneumonia compared to 395 of 4603 (9%) never-users (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.90; 95%CI, 1.45 to 2.50, p<0.001); number need to harm=20). Conversely, there was no association between past (remote) use of ICS and pneumonia: 9% of past-users vs 9% never-users; p=0.36). Conclusion. ICS use was associated with a 90% relative increase in the risk of recurrent pneumonia among high-risk pneumonia survivors. This should be considered when prescribing ICS and when deciding which patients might need more intensive follow-up.
PMID: 23872948 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]