PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Real-world evidence links long-term use of oral and inhaled steroids to adrenal insufficiency

2025-05-09
(Press-News.org) Individuals taking steroid tablets for more than 3 months are over 6 times more likely to be diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency than those treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). In addition, they have a greater risk of being hospitalised for adrenal insufficiency, while long-term users of inhaled steroids have an increased risk of developing adrenal insufficiency but without any increase in the number of hospitalisations. The findings highlight the importance of using an appropriate substitute treatment, such as hydrocortisone, in order to prevent the onset of adrenal insufficiency.

Steroids, also called corticosteroids, are anti-inflammatory medicines used to treat various conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergies, arthritis and autoimmune diseases. When taking these widely-prescribed medicines, such as prednisolone, for more than three weeks, the dose has to be reduced gradually because abruptly stopping them can cause the adrenal gland to stop producing the stress hormone cortisol — a condition known as adrenal insufficiency.

In this study, Dr Patricia Vaduva and colleagues from France examined 558,667 individuals who used steroid tablets or inhaled steroids for 3 months to 5 years, and compared them to individuals treated only with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The researchers found that those who used steroid tablets for more than 3 months were over 6 times more likely to be diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency and over 3 times more likely to be hospitalised for adrenal insufficiency than those who only used NSAIDs. Similarly, those who took inhaled steroids had a 55% higher risk of being diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency, but did not have an increased risk of being hospitalised for the same condition.

“Our real-world study is the largest to investigate the association between long-term corticosteroid use and adrenal insufficiency,” said lead author Dr Patricia Vaduva from the Rennes University Hospital in France.

“The impact of corticosteroids on the pituitary gland — located in the brain and which regulates adrenal gland cortisol secretion — has been previously looked at, but studies on the incidence of adrenal insufficiency following the chronic use of both oral and inhaled corticosteroids are practically lacking.”

Dr Vaduva added: “Our findings show that even low doses of inhaled steroids can lead to adrenal insufficiency, contrary to what one might have thought until now. This information should be widely spread across the medical community.”

“The presence of synthetic corticosteroids in the blood can cause the adrenal glands to go into a ‘sleep-like’ state, where they reduce or stop producing cortisol. Therefore, when long-term corticosteroid therapy is stopped suddenly, a substitutive treatment with a naturally-occurring steroid like hydrocortisone is needed to avoid adrenal insufficiency and its potential life-threatening consequences. This will allow patients to be safe and will prevent numerous hospitalisations,” said Dr Vaduva.


 

--------ENDS--------

 

 

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Phthalates may impact key genital measurement in 3-year-olds

2025-05-09
Three-year-old boys are more likely to have a shorter anogenital distance when their mothers have high levels of phthalates in their urine, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). In girls, the direct exposure to phthalates was associated with a shorter anogenital distance. The findings highlight how exposure to environmental pollutants can cause alterations in genital measurements during the first three years of life, which may affect sexual development and fertility later in life. Phthalates ...

Phosphate levels in blood strongly affect sperm quality in men

2025-05-09
Men with fertility issues have lower levels of phosphate in the blood than average, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). In addition, low phosphate concentrations in the blood were associated with reduced sperm motility in infertile men. The findings can help researchers improve the understanding of the biological factors involved in male reproductive health, which could lead to new fertility treatments. Over the past 50 years, sperm counts worldwide have halved, sperm quality has declined alarmingly and 15% of all heterosexual couples are ...

Testosterone during pregnancy linked to physical activity and muscle strength in children

2025-05-09
Boys born to mothers who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or who have higher levels of testosterone during the third trimester are more likely to be less physically active at age 7, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). Testosterone levels or PCOS in the mothers were not associated with physical activity in girls, but 7-year-old girls whose mothers had higher testosterone levels during pregnancy had lower muscle strength. The findings highlight the important role that maternal testosterone and PCOS may play in future development in boys and girls ...

Menopause at an earlier age increases risk of fatty liver disease and metabolic disorders

2025-05-09
Women who experience menopause before the age of 50 — and especially before the age of 45 — are more likely to develop fatty liver disease and its related metabolic risk factors within one year after menopause, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). This study is the largest to assess this association over five years and suggests that the age of natural menopause should be considered part of the cardio-metabolic risk assessment ...

Early-life growth proved important for height in puberty and adulthood

2025-05-09
Growth patterns during the first two years of a child’s life may shape pubertal growth and adult height, but have little effect on pubertal timing, according to research presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE). The findings highlight the importance of early-life growth, which could be used as a marker to predict future growth, development and health. It is well established that the early-life growth period — from conception to approximately two years of age — is crucial ...

Women with infertility history at greater risk of cardiovascular disease after assisted conception

2025-05-09
Women who experience infertility are more likely to develop heart and blood vessel conditions later in life, with younger women and those who undergo fertility treatments at a greater risk. The findings, presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE), highlight the importance of considering a woman’s reproductive history when assessing her long-term heart health. Approximately one in every six people of reproductive age worldwide is estimated to experience infertility in their lifetime. Treatment of infertility ...

UO researcher develops new tool that could aid drug development

2025-05-09
Computer simulations help materials scientists and biochemists study the motion of macromolecules, advancing the development of new drugs and sustainable materials. However, these simulations pose a challenge for even the most powerful supercomputers. A University of Oregon graduate student has developed a new mathematical equation that significantly improves the accuracy of the simplified computer models used to study the motion and behavior of large molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids and synthetic materials such as plastics. The breakthrough, published last month in Physical Review Letters, enhances researchers’ ability to investigate the motion ...

Call for abstracts: GSA Connects 2025 invites geoscientists to share groundbreaking research

2025-05-09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9 May 2025 The Geological Society of America Release No. 25-06 Contact: Katie Busser +1-303-357-1044 kbusser@geosociety.org   Boulder, Colo., USA: The Geological Society of America (GSA) invites scientists, researchers, and professionals from across the globe to submit abstracts for its annual meeting, GSA Connects 2025, taking place 19–22 October 2025 in San Antonio, Texas, USA. Held annually, GSA Connects is one of the premier international gatherings in the geoscience community, offering a dynamic platform for sharing cutting-edge research and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue. This year’s meeting ...

The skinny on fat, ascites and anti-tumor immunity

2025-05-09
MAY 9, 2025, NEW YORK – A Ludwig Cancer Research study has identified a key mechanism by which advanced ovarian cancers suppress anti-tumor immune responses and resist immunotherapies. Led by Ludwig Princeton’s Lydia Lynch and reported in the current issue of Science Immunology, the study details how ascites fluid—produced in large quantities as ovarian cancer spreads from the ovaries into the abdomen and its organs—sabotages cytotoxic lymphocytes, a class of immune cells that kill cancer cells. “Although ascites fluid has long been known to be immunosuppressive, it has not been clear what precisely gives it that property,” explained Lynch. “We discovered ...

New film series 'The Deadly Five' highlights global animal infectious diseases

2025-05-09
The EU-funded WiLiMan-ID project (https://www.wiliman-id.eu/)  is excited to announce the launch of a brand-new short film series, The Deadly Five. This series is aimed at raising awareness of five critical animal infectious diseases, classified as high priority. Each film in the series focuses on a different disease and the experts studying and fighting them, highlighting the risks each disease poses to animal and public health, as well as the strategies being developed to mitigate their impact. “Through this series, we aim at bringing ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Menopause drug reduces hot flashes by more than 70%, international clinical trial finds

FGF21 muscle hormone associated with slow ALS progression and extended survival

Hitting the right note: The healing power of music therapy in the cardiac ICU

Cardiovascular disease risk rises in Mexico, despite improved cholesterol control

Flexible optical touch sensor simultaneously pinpoints pressure strength and location

Achalasia diagnosis simplified to AI plus X-ray

PolyU scholars pioneer smart and sustainable personal cooling technologies to address global extreme heat

NIH grant aims for childhood vaccine against HIV

Menstrual cycle and long COVID: A relation confirmed

WMO report on global water resources: 2024 was characterized by both extreme drought and intense rainfall

New findings explain how a mutation in a cancer-related gen causes pulmonary fibrosis

Thermal trigger

SNU materials science and engineering team identifies reconstruction mechanism of copper alloy catalysts for CO₂ conversion

New book challenges misconceptions about evolution and our place in the tree of life

Decoding a decade of grouper grunts unlocks spawning secrets, shifts

Smart robots revolutionize structural health monitoring

Serum-derived hsa_circ_101555 as a diagnostic biomarker in non-hepatocellular carcinoma chronic liver disease

Korea University study identifies age 70 as cutoff for chemotherapy benefit in colorectal cancer

Study explores brain cell communication called ‘crosstalk’

4 beer and wine discoveries

Massage Therapy Foundation awards $299,465 research grant to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Chung-Ang University develops chloride-resistant Ru nanocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen production from seawater

Afghanistan’s August 2025 earthquake reveals the cost of international isolation, UN scientists warn

Shortlist announced for Panmure House Prize

Small nuclear RNA base editing a safer alternative to CRISPR, UC San Diego researchers find

Can Hayabusa2 touchdown? New study reveals space mission’s target asteroid is tinier and faster than thought

Millisecond windows of time may be key to how we hear, study finds

Graz University of Technology opens up new avenues in lung cancer research with digital cell twin

Exoplanets are not water worlds

Study shows increasing ‘healthy competition’ between menu options nudges patients towards greener, lower-fat hospital food choices

[Press-News.org] Real-world evidence links long-term use of oral and inhaled steroids to adrenal insufficiency