Adverse effects of corticosteroid therapy in neuromuscular diseased patients are common and receive insufficient prophylaxis.
BACKGROUND
Corticosteroid therapy is known to have long-term adverse effects and complications, but our knowledge of the adverse effects of corticosteroids within a neuromuscular patient population is limited.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the prevalence and impact of corticosteroid use in a population of patients with neuromuscular diseases, as well as possible clinical associations for presence of adverse effects.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review from a comprehensive database from a tertiary care neuromuscular clinic spanning 1988-2007 was performed.


RESULTS
Corticosteroids led to adverse effects in 74% of exposed patients, without proper prophylaxis considered in about 50% of cases. There were no associations determined to have impact upon adverse effect occurrence, including the exposure to cumulative corticosteroid dosing or diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Corticosteroid therapy is frequently associated with adverse effects, although prediction of their occurrence is not clear. Prophylaxis of their occurrence is underperformed in our tertiary care clinic patient population.
McDougall
D
D
Department of Clinical Neurosciences and the University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Bhibhatbhan
A
A
Toth
C
C
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones