Table 3.
Odds Ratio and 95% Confidence Intervals for the Association Between Repeated High-Intensity Steroid Exposure (Defined as >4 Exacerbations or Requiring Long-Term Oral Corticosteroid Use) and the Development of Comorbid Conditions
| Morbidity | EMR | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| >4 Exacerbations or Requiring Long-Term OCS | ≤4 Exacerbations and Not Requiring Long-Term OCS | Unadjusted OR (95% CI) | Adjusted OR (95% CI)a | |
| Potential steroid related comorbidities | ||||
| Diabetes | 35 (20%) | 821 (11%) | 2.14 (1.44–3.09) | 1.36 (0.91–2.00) |
| Osteoporosis | 79 (46%) | 1922 (25%) | 2.55 (1.88–3.46) | 1.95 (1.43–2.66) |
| Obesityb | 89 (52%) | 3775 (49%) | 1.11 (0.82–1.51) | 1.11 (0.82–1.51) |
| Hypertension | 61 (36%) | 1383 (18%) | 2.51 (1.82–3.43) | 1.35 (0.94–1.92) |
| Sleep apnoea | 108 (63%) | 3263 (42%) | 2.29 (1.68–3.15) | 1.78 (1.30–2.46) |
| Heart disease | 16 (9%) | 246 (3%) | 3.11 (1.76–5.12) | 1.69 (0.94–2.87) |
| Depression/anxiety | 72 (42%) | 2819 (37%) | 1.25 (0.91–1.69) | 1.22 (0.89–1.66) |
Notes: aAge and gender adjusted. bDefined from clinical notes or most recent BMI >30.
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; EMR, electronic medical records; OCS, oral cortico steroid OR, odds ratio.