Association of low-dosage systemic corticosteroid use with disease burden in asthma

There is an ongoing debate about the benefit-risk balance of systemic corticosteroids (SCS) in asthma treatment. We investigated the associations between SCS use and disease burden in a database cohort of asthmatics, categorized into SCS and non-SCS prescription at baseline and quartiles (Q) by cumulative SCS dosage. Of the 10,579 patients, the SCS cohort comprised 3103 patients (29.3%). Mean SCS dosages at baseline were 0.08, 0.29, 0.79, and 4.58 mg/day in Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, respectively. Similar SCS dosages were used within each quartile throughout the study period. No remarkable changes in asthma severity or control status were observed. All SCS cohorts had a higher risk of intermittent SCS exposure during the observation period. SCS use was associated with osteoporosis, diabetes, anxiety/neurosis, and depression. SCS-dependent treatment does not necessarily lead to the future improvement of asthma control; rather, it may negatively impact systemic health, even at mean dosages <5 mg/day.