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Anticipated updates for asthma treatment guidelines are shifting away from oral or systemic corticosteroids because of increasing evidence of long-term harm. Negative effects can come from even short, intermittent use, according to coverage in MedPage Today of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology meeting. Studies show that as few as 3 or 4 steroid bursts over a lifetime may lead to side effects such as bone loss, metabolic disorders, and adrenal suppression. The updated recommendations could prioritize biologics and other maintenance treatments to reduce exacerbations while minimizing oral corticosteroid use. Evidence suggests that biologics may achieve comparable or better asthma control with fewer risks.
More to come: As many as one-third of asthma patients in the United States receive a 5-7 day burst of steroids to treat acute exacerbations in a given year, the report notes. A task force is currently working on the updated guidelines.