Steroid Inhalers Do Not Increase Risk Of Novertebral Fracture

<Monday, February 7, 2005>

A report from the the journal CHEST shows that the use of low dose steroid inhalers do not, in the short term, increase the risk of nonvertebral fracture in older patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

"After adjustment for serverity of the underlying respiratory disease, neither patients with COPD nor patients with asthma using ICS show substantiallyincreased risk of nonvertebral fracture compared to corresonding patients without ICS use.Concern about nonvertebral fracture risk should not strongly influence the decision to use recommended doses of ICS for adult patients with asthma or COPD," writes study author Dr. Catherine B. Johannes.

In the study, researchers examined the risk of nonvertebral fracture in 89,877 adults who filed insurance claims for asthma and/or COPD.  The study examined the ICS exposure for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Cumulative doses of the ICS were calculated for the various time points. Approximately, 35% of the study population was exposed to ICS (15% were exposed to fluticasone, 22% to other ICS preparations and 27% to orals steroids).

Ther researchers reported, "no increased risk with ICS exposure as a class or with fluticasone alone was detected." The group further reported that the study did not evaluate the risks associated with very-high doses of ICS, long-term use of ICS, or the risk of vertebral fractures.