Associations with short-term and long-term use of inhaled corticosteroid in adults with asthma. A retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to compare anthropometric data and pulmonary and extrapulmonary physical functional outcomes of short- and long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids in adults with asthma.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study with retrospective analysis included clinically stable adults with asthma. Anthropometric data, exacerbation history, pulmonary function, disease control, dyspnea in daily life, quality of life, anxiety, depression, functional exercise capacity, performance in daily activities, body composition, physical activity level, respiratory muscle strength, lower limb strength, and handgrip strength were assessed and compared. Participants were separated into two groups based on the current duration of inhaled corticosteroids use below (short-term) or above (long-term) 3 years (≤3 years [n=37] and >3 years [n=30]) for comparative analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 67 participants were analyzed (69% female, 49±14 years, body mass index 29±6 kg/m², FEV1 2.21±0.79 L). The group ≤3 years presented statistically higher spirometric values and exercise capacity compared to the group >3 years even after analysis of covariance adjustments for age, body mass index, disease control, and treatment duration (forced vital capacity 3.39 [3.09-3.70] L vs. 2.93 [2.59-3.26] L, p=0.048; FEV1 2.40 [2.17-2.63] L vs. 2.00 [1.75-2.25] L, p=0.023; 6-min walk test 567 [536-599] vs. 519 [484-554] m, respectively, p=0.048). All the other variables were similar between groups (p>0.05 for all).

CONCLUSION

Participants who used inhaled corticosteroids for more than 3 years exhibited worse pulmonary function and exercise capacity. Despite this, exacerbation history, disease control, quality of life, anxiety, depression, and dyspnea in daily life, among other physical functional outcomes, were similar between short- and long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids in adults with asthma.