title: [Functional manifestations associated to corticosteroid therapy among the elderly].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Corticosteroid therapy is frequently prescribed in the elderly with potentially significant consequences in this frail population. The objective of this study was to describe the functional manifestations associated and the preventive measures prescribed with corticosteroid therapy among patients over 75 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an exposed/non-exposed, prospective, multi-centre, observational study. Each exposed patient was sex and age (± 2 years) matched to two unexposed subjects. The sample included patients aged over 75 years treated with long-term corticosteroid therapy and hospitalized in an acute geriatric unit between June 2006 and November 2009. Sociodemographic and geriatric characteristics, history of corticosteroid therapy, clinical manifestations and preventive measures prescribed were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty exposed and 100 unexposed patients were included. Mean age was 85±6 years. Prevalence of falls, osteoarticular complications, amyotrophy, vertebral fractures, lipodystrophy, purpura, hematomas and cataracts, and the number of medications were higher among patients taking corticosteroid therapy than in controls. Preventive measures were more often prescribed to patients under taking corticosteroid therapy (calcium and vitamin supplementation, potassium supplementation, anti-osteoporosis medication and gastroprotective agents).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functional manifestations associated with corticosteroid therapy are frequent among the elderly and may have serious consequences in this frail population. Attention should be paid to the prescription of preventive measures through comprehensive care.
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine interne et gérontologie clinique, hôpital Maison-Blanche, CHU de Reims, 45, avenue Cognacq-Jay, 51092 Reims cedex, France. cvanhaecke-collard@chu-reims.fr
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vanhaecke Collard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dramé
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Novella
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pennaforte
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones