Systemic Steroids Given During an Asthma Attack

8 for prevented hospital admission

Benefits in NNT

8
1 in 8 were helped (preventing hospital admission)
10
1 in 10 were helped (preventing asthma relapse)
11
1 in 11 were helped (preventing a later hospital admission)
8
75-80% saw no benefit
10
12.5% were helped by preventing hospital admission
11
10.0% were helped by preventing asthma relapse
9.1% were helped by preventing a later hospital admission

Harms in NNT

None were harmed (serious side effects)
0% were harmed by serious side effects
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Efficacy Endpoints

Hospital admission, asthma relapse, subsequent hospitalization for asthma

Harm Endpoints

Steroid adverse drug effects

Narrative

Admissions: In the included 12 studies (N = 863), steroids were always given within an hour. The impact seen in these trials might be surprising to many given the conventional wisdom that effects of steroids are delayed. The effects were consistent across the pediatric and adult populations. Of note, all steroids were administered intravenously or intramuscularly in the adults but given orally in pediatrics.

Relapse Rates/Subsequent Hospitalizations: There were 6 studies (N = 374), both pediatric and adults. Steroids were administered intramuscularly in one, but given orally in the remaining five, for a duration of 3-10 days. The baseline relapse rates for asthmatics has been noted to be 12-16% at 2 weeks. In this review, most studies followed patients up for a maximum of 7-10 days; however, one extended the period to 21 days.

Caveats

Admissions: The average admission rate for asthmatics is 10-20%; however, in the included studies, the admission rate was generally greater than 40%, indicating a relatively sick asthmatic population. In addition, the authors noted significant heterogeneity between the studies and performed a pre-planned subgroup analysis to assess the impact of steroids based on severity of disease. As expected, the impact of steroids was larger (NNT = 5) in the more severe asthmatic populations. For harm, the only aggregated data we were able to find appears to suggest that there may be a small, clinically difficult-to-detect negative impact of systemic steroids on growth in children due to intermittent steroids in asthma, while there was no detectable impact of inhaled corticosteroids. These effects were from small, heterogeneous studies and should be considered preliminary.1

Relapse Rates/Subsequent Hospitalizations: The actual steroid, dosage and duration of course varied between studies so judgment still informs these areas of management. For harm, the only aggregated data we were able to find appears to suggest that there may be a small, clinically difficult-to-detect negative impact of systemic steroids on growth in children due to intermittent steroids in asthma, while there was no detectable impact of inhaled corticosteroids. These effects were from small, heterogeneous studies and should be considered preliminary.1

Author

Ashley Shreves, MD

Published/Updated

January 10, 2010