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Influence of previous use of inhaled corticoids on the development of pleural effusion in community-acquired pneumonia.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Jun 1;187(11):1241-8
Authors: Sellares J, López-Giraldo A, Lucena C, Cilloniz C, Amaro R, Polverino E, Ferrer M, Menéndez R, Mensa J, Torres A
Abstract
RATIONALE: Previous use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been associated with increased risk of community-acquired pneumonia. However, ICS have been associated with fewer pneumonia complications and decreased risk of pneumonia-related mortality.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to assess the influence of previous use of ICS on the incidence of parapneumonic effusion in patients with different baseline respiratory disorders.
METHODS: We conducted a single-center cohort study of 3,612 consecutively collected patients diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia. We assessed clinical, radiographic, and pleural-fluid chemistry and microbiologic variables. Patients were classified according to whether or not they received prior ICS treatment.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 633 patients (17%) were treated with corticosteroids before the diagnosis of pneumonia (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 54%; asthma, 13%). Incidence of parapneumonic effusion was lower in patients with ICS use compared with non-ICS patients (5% vs. 12%; P < 0.001). After matching according to propensity scores (n = 640), prior treatment with corticosteroids was still significantly associated with a lower incidence of parapneumonic effusion (odds ratio, 0.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.23-0.69; P = 0.001) compared with patients without ICS treatment. Prior ICS treatment was associated with higher levels of glucose (P = 0.003) and pH (P = 0.02), and lower levels of protein (P = 0.01) and lactic acid dehydrogenase (P = 0.007) in the pleural fluid.
CONCLUSIONS: Prior treatment with ICS in a population of patients with different respiratory chronic disorders who develop pneumonia is associated with lower incidence of parapneumonic effusion.
PMID: 23590264 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]