Do oral corticosteroids increase the risk of adverse effects in patients with atopic dermatitis?

Investigators have examined whether oral corticosteroid use may increase the risk of adverse events among patients with atopic dermatitis.

In a study, published in JAMA Network Open, the investigators used South Korea’s Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database to examine oral corticosteroid use and outcomes among 164,809 patients with atopic dermatitis who experienced adverse events and 328,303 matched controls.

The use of oral corticosteroids for longer than 30 days per year was associated with an increased risk of hypertension, avascular necrosis and cataracts, while the use of the medication for longer than 90 days per year was associated with an increased risk of fractures, hyperlipidemia, myocardial infarctions and avascular necrosis. Although the use of oral corticosteroids for longer than 90 days per year was linked to a higher risk of the composite adverse events, there was no increased risk of composite adverse events among patients who used the medication for longer than 30 days per year.

Further studies may be needed to confirm the findings and better understand the risks of long-term corticosteroid use in this patient population.

Read more: JAMA Network Open

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