López HAL, Vega RA, Flores FQ

Language: Spanish
References: 12
Page: 400-404
PDF size: 562.85 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: corticosteroids are frequently used in clinical practice, sometimes without a clearly established indication. Due to their potential for adverse effects, it is important to identify the main indications for use and the most frequent complications associated with their administration in hospitalized internal medicine patients. Objective: analyze the most common indications for the use of systemic corticosteroids and their associated adverse effects. Material and methods: an observational, cross-sectional, analytical study reviewing 63 patient records of patients hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Department at Hospital Angeles Mocel (July 2023 to February 2024). Adults aged 25 to 85 years with chronic or recent corticosteroid use were included. Results: women predominated (61.9%) with a mean age of 48.2 ± 17.9 years. Most patients (85.7%) started treatment in hospital, the most commonly used being methylprednisolone (27%), administered mainly intravenously with a mean duration of 7.9 days and an equivalent dose of 26.3 mg of prednisone per day. SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia was the most frequent nonrheumatological pathology (18.2%), while systemic lupus erythematosus was the most common rheumatological disease. Adverse effects were observed in 44.4% of patients, highlighting transient hyperglycemia (32.1%), especially in those with non-rheumatological diseases. The administered dose was identified as an independent predictor of adverse effects. Conclusions: corticosteroid use was more common in non-rheumatological diseases. Adverse effects were more associated with dose than with treatment duration, emphasizing the need for rational use of these drugs.

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