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:

Public take the lead in discovery of new exploding star

What are they vaping? Study reveals alarming surge in adolescent vaping of THC, CBD, and synthetic cannabinoids

ECMWF - delivering forecasts over 10 times faster and cutting energy usage by 1000

Brazilian neuroscientist reveals how viral infections transform the brain through microscopic detective work

Turning social fragmentation into action through discovering relatedness

Cheese may really be giving you nightmares, scientists find

Study reveals most common medical emergencies in schools

Breathable yet protective: Next-gen medical textiles with micro/nano networks

Frequency-engineered MXene supercapacitors enable efficient pulse charging in TENG–SC hybrid systems

Developed an AI-based classification system for facial pigmented lesions

Achieving 20% efficiency in halogen-free organic solar cells via isomeric additive-mediated sequential processing

New book Terraglossia reclaims language, Country and culture

The most effective diabetes drugs don't reach enough patients yet

Breast cancer risk in younger women may be influenced by hormone therapy

Strategies for staying smoke-free after rehab

Commentary questions the potential benefit of levothyroxine treatment of mild hypothyroidism during pregnancy

Study projects over 14 million preventable deaths by 2030 if USAID defunding continues

New study reveals 33% gap in transplant access for UK’s poorest children

Dysregulated epigenetic memory in early embryos offers new clues to the inheritance of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

IVF and IUI pregnancy rates remain stable across Europe, despite an increasing uptake of single embryo transfer

It takes a village: Chimpanzee babies do better when their moms have social connections

From lab to market: how renewable polymers could transform medicine

Striking increase in obesity observed among youth between 2011 and 2023

No evidence that medications trigger microscopic colitis in older adults

NYUAD researchers find link between brain growth and mental health disorders

Aging-related inflammation is not universal across human populations, new study finds

University of Oregon to create national children’s mental health center with $11 million federal grant

Rare achievement: UTA undergrad publishes research

Fact or fiction? The ADHD info dilemma

Genetic ancestry linked to risk of severe dengue

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