title: The Risk of Sepsis with Inhaled and Oral Corticosteroids in Patients with COPD.
abstract: The use of oral and inhaled corticosteroids is associated with increases in the risk of infection, especially pneumonia. The risk of sepsis with corticosteroid treatment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been little studied, however. We assessed whether the use of inhaled and oral corticosteroids in COPD is associated with an increase in the risk of sepsis. We carried out a retrospective cohort study using the administrative health databases of the province of Quebec, Canada, over the period 1990-2007. The cohort of patients with COPD included patients aged 55 years or older who used respiratory medications. A quasi-cohort analysis was used to estimate the rate ratio (RR) of sepsis in current users of inhaled corticosteroids and oral corticosteroids separately, after adjusting for differences in COPD disease severity and co-morbid conditions. The cohort included 163,514 patients treated for COPD, including 1,704 who were hospitalized for or died with sepsis during follow-up (incidence rate 1.94 per 1000 per year). The RR of sepsis associated with current use of inhaled corticosteroids was 0.98 (95%confidence interval [CI] 0.84-1.14). Current oral corticosteroid use was associated with a 66% increase in the risk of sepsis (RR 1.66; 95% CI: 1.35-2.05). The increase in risk remains for around 5 months after the oral corticosteroid exposure. Among patients treated for COPD, the risk of sepsis is not increased with inhaled corticosteroids, even at high doses, while the risk is increased with oral corticosteroids. This risk should be considered when treating exacerbations of COPD.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Research Institute, Jewish General Hospital , Montreal , Quebec , Canada.|b Department of Medicine , Pulmonary Division, Jewish General Hospital , Montreal , Québec , Canada.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Research Institute, Jewish General Hospital , Montreal , Quebec , Canada.
authors.forename: Janie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coulombe
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Research Institute, Jewish General Hospital , Montreal , Quebec , Canada.|c Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics , McGill University , Montréal , Québec , Canada.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brassard
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Research Institute, Jewish General Hospital , Montreal , Quebec , Canada.|c Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics , McGill University , Montréal , Québec , Canada.
authors.forename: Samy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suissa
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: Adverse effects; COPD therapy; inhaled corticosteroids; oral corticosteroids; sepsis