Journal article

Asthma, bones and corticosteroids: Are inhaled corticosteroids associated with fractures in children with asthma?

SE Zieck, J George, BA Blakeley, L Welsh, S James, S Ranganathan, P Simm, A Lim

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health | WILEY | Published : 2017

Abstract

Aim: The prevalence of asthma worldwide among older children varies between 10 and 20%. One of the most effective therapies to treat asthma and prevent exacerbations is inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). Systemic corticosteroids are known to decrease bone mineral density and increase the risk of fractures among children, but little is known about the effect of ICSs on fracture risk in children with asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the fracture rates in children with asthma using ICSs. Methods: A survey on fracture history and risk, bone health and asthma was administered by a researcher to children aged 6–18 years attending a tertiary care children's hospital in Melbourne, Austr..

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Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

The study team would like to thank all the participants for volunteering their time and all the respiratory and general medicine clinicians for their referrals and efforts in assisting recruitment. Dr Johnson George has financial support for unrelated research from Boehringer Ingelheim and Pfizer.