The Complications of Systemic Corticosteroid Therapy in the Elderly

Abstract

The complications of long-term corticosteroid therapy were reviewed in 100 elderly patients who were treated for chronic obstructive airways disease (n = 76), rheumatoid arthritis (n = 19) and ulcerative colitis (n = 5). The incidence of side effects was high (40%) and appeared to be dose-related. Osteoporosis (16%) and hypertension (12%) were the most common. Hypokalaemia occurred infrequently despite the fact that 69 patients were also prescribed diuretics. A further group of 36 patients receiving corticosteroids for polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis also seemed to demonstrate a dose-related effect on the incidence of complications although this could not be confirmed statistically.

High Risk of Death in Elderly Patients With Extensive Bullous Pemphigoid

“…Cardiovascular disorders, the second cause of death in our series, might also have been aggravated by systemic corticosteroids. 15 We, therefore, strongly suspected that oral corticosteroid therapy could be a factor in mortality in our patients. This was not confirmed by the multivariate analysis of potential risk factors, where the risk of death did not appear increased in patients treated with oral corticosteroids.…”

Increased incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in chronic interstitial lung disease.

“…The chest radiograph in all eight patients gave no indication of tuberculosis in any of the eight patients. In patient 8 tomography showed a cavity in the left upper lobe.…”

Glioblastome du sujet âgé : état de l’art

“…Les corticostéroïdes sont fréquemment utilisés à visée anti-oedé-mateuse, pour améliorer l'état général ou diminuer les maux de tête. Ceux-ci peuvent cependant exposer les patients âgés à des complications aiguës [56]. Les effets secondaires des corticostéroïdes à plus long terme (ostéoporose, diabète.…”