by Use higher doses of topical corticosteroidsthat are used in combination to treat inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis, are linked to increased risks of osteoporosis and bone fractures associated with osteoporosis, according to new research findings published in the Journal of the European Academy of Medicine. Dermatology and Venereology.
The researchers selected 129,682 cases of osteoporosis and 34,999 cases of major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) and compared them with 518,728 and 139,996 controls, without these conditions, by sex and age. The cases come from Taiwan’s national health insurance research database.
The team found clear dose-response relationships between long-term use of topical corticosteroids and osteoporosis and MOF. For example, compared with no dose, low, medium, and high cumulative doses of topical corticosteroids were associated with 1.22, 1.26, and 1.34 times greater odds of developing osteoporosis over five years. These respective doses were associated with 1.12-, 1.19-, and 1.29-fold increased odds of experiencing MOF.
Specific, women were at higher risk of osteoporosis and MOF than men. Furthermore, the most youths (under 50 years) were at higher risk of this bone disease compared to other age groups.
“This study emphasizes that the use of topical corticosteroids to treat inflammatory skin conditions should be done very carefully and doctors should be aware of these potential side effects,” said Dr. Chia-Yu Chu, from National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University, and corresponding author.
