Impact of prior systemic corticosteroid use in patients admitted with community-acquired pneumonia

Limited information is available regarding the impact of prior outpatient use of systemic corticosteroids (SCS) in patients subsequently developing community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We investigate the effects of prior SCS on severity of illness, microbiology and clinical outcomes for patients hospitalized with CAP.

A retrospective cohort study of subjects with CAP (according to International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition codes) was conducted over a 3-year period at two tertiary teaching hospitals. Subjects were considered to be SCS users if they received oral corticosteroids prior to admission. Primary outcomes were severity of illness, microbiology and 30-day mortality.

Data were abstracted on 698 patients [prior SCS users, 75 (10.7%) versus prior non-SCS users 623 (89.3%)]. Prior SCS users were more likely to have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. No differences were found in severity of disease at admission, microbiological etiology including opportunistic and drug-resistant pathogens and clinical outcomes, including 30-day mortality, intensive care unit admission, length of hospital stay, need for mechanical ventilation and need for vasopressors.

Prior SCS use is not associated with increased 30-day mortality for patients hospitalized with CAP. In addition, no differences were found in either the severity of the disease at the time of presentation or in the presence of the resistant or opportunistic pathogens among groups.