Table 4.

Incidence rate ratios for adverse events associated with short term use of oral corticosteroids, by reason for medical visit

Adverse event	5-30 days*	P value		31-90 days*	P value
	Incidence rate ratio† (95% CI)			Incidence rate ratio† (95% CI)
Sepsis:
Respiratory conditions‡	3.77 (1.94 to 7.35)	<0.001		2.53 (1.25 to 5.10)	0.01
Musculoskeletal conditions§	12.91 (5.49 to 30.34)	<0.001		4.32 (1.87 to 9.97)	0.001
Venous thromboembolism:
Respiratory conditions‡	3.11 (2.20 to 4.40)	<0.001		1.27 (0.88 to 1.82)	0.20
Musculoskeletal conditions§	4.70 (3.08 to 7.17)	<0.001		2.02 (1.31 to 3.11)	0.001
Fracture:
Respiratory conditions‡	1.96 (1.63 to 2.37)	<0.001		1.33 (1.13 to 1.56)	<0.001
Musculoskeletal conditions§	2.46 (2.02 to 3.00)	<0.001		1.65 (1.37 to 1.99)	<0.001

*Number of days from date when corticosteroid prescription was filled. Reference period was 5-180 days before prescription date.

†Sepsis was adjusted for antibiotics, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory agents, antimuscarinics, opiate agonists, and phenothiazine. Venous thromboembolism was adjusted for antibiotics, androgens, anxiolytics, anti-inflammatory agents, azoles, calcium channel blockers, coumarin, diuretics, opiate agonists, and platelet aggregation inhibitors. Fractures were adjusted for anti-inflammatory agents, COX-2 inhibitors, and opiate agonists.

‡Upper respiratory tract infection, allergy, bronchitis, lower respiratory tract disorder, upper respiratory tract disorder, or asthma.

§Spinal conditions, connective tissue disorders, or joint disorders.