The double-edged swords that are inhaled corticosteroids in COPD.
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) as part of combination therapy in COPD can reduce flare ups and disease impact. Yet, the very treatment that offers benefit may also have adverse effects, such as increasing the risk of pneumonia..
Now, there appears to be differences in the ways individual ICS may affect the risk of pneumonia. Data from over 13 000 patients from the Optimum Patient Care Research Database found fluticasone formulations to be associated with an increased risk of developing pneumonia when compared to extrafine beclomethasone formulations. .
Check out this figure that compares the risk of developing pneumonia between new users of fluticasone and extrafine beclomethasone..These findings could be related to the difference in dose, potency, lipophilicity, and particle size distribution of these ICS.
More information can be found in the full article: https://lnkd.in/gUsG8Tgc
