Early corticosteroid use in acute exacerbations of chronic airflow obstruction

Michael J. Bullard*, Shiumn Jen Liaw, Ying Huang Tsai, Hu Pai Min

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

82 Scopus citations

Abstract

To determine the benefit of early steroid use in acute exacerbations of chronic airflow obstruction in the ED, 113 patients with an average age of 66 years, acute or chronic dyspnea, an FEV1 of <60% and FEV1/FVC ratio of <60% were included in a randomized, double-blinded, interventional clinical trial. All patients received the same bronchodilator treatment. At 6 hours the steroid-treated group showed a 21.71 L/min improvement in PEFR (P < .05) and 0.14 L improvement in FEV1 (P < .05), while the nonsteroid group showed insignificant improvements of 5.52 L/min and 0.02 L, respectively. Of those patients receiving steroids, 22 achieved >40% improvements in PEFR by 6 hours and 17 achieved similar results in FEV1, whereas of those not receiving steroids, 13 and 8, respectively, achieved improvements. Within 24 hours of observation in the ED, 10 patients receiving steroids were discharged and none relapsed within 2 weeks. Of those not receiving steroids, only 10 were discharged and 3 returned with exacerbations. Although early response to steroids in chronic airflow obstruction is variable, the overall medical and cost benefits justify their early use in acute exacerbations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)139-143
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume14
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996

Keywords

  • Lung diseases, obstructive
  • emergency service, hospital
  • forced expiratory volume
  • hydrocortisone (therapeutic use)
  • peak expiratory flow rate
  • steroids (therapeutic use)

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