Application of an algorithm to analyze patterns of intermittent oral corticosteroid use in asthma

NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2023 Mar 4;33(1):9. doi: 10.1038/s41533-023-00331-0.

Abstract

An algorithm to describe patterns of intermittent oral corticosteroid use in the UK (n = 476,167) found that one-third of patients receiving intermittent oral corticosteroids for asthma only had short gaps (<90 days) between oral corticosteroid prescriptions sometime during follow-up. The increasing frequency pattern was more likely in patients with greater asthma severity and with more short-acting β2-agonist use at baseline. Our approach may provide a clinically relevant representation of intermittent oral corticosteroid use in asthma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Algorithms*
  • Asthma*
  • Humans
  • Prescriptions

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones