Bone Abstracts

Introduction:: The pharmacological glucocorticoids used have an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive action, but therapeutic gain is often accompanied by side effects. Widely prescribed, both by medical specialists and generalists, our work objective is to evaluate the perception by specialist medicine physicians of the impact of the discomfort caused by corticosteroid-induced adverse events.

Methods:: We conducted a descriptive survey with 85 specialist medicine physicians from the University Hospital of Casablanca, compound single or multiple questions chosen in accordance with proposed rules by the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, mainly the perception by specialist medicine physicians of the impact of the discomfort caused by corticosteroid-induced adverse events.

Results:: Eighty-five specialist medicine physicians answered the questionnaire. These were respectively, 12 rheumatologists and nephrologists, 10 dermatologists, 10 gastroenterologists, 9 dermatologists, 8 internists, 8 neurologists, 6 pulmonologists, 5 infectiologists, 3 oncologists, and 2 pediatrists; 44.7% of those who answered had seen more than 10 patients receiving long-term corticosteroids in consultation during the last months. The pattern initiation of corticosteroid therapy was connectivity and (40%) rheumatoid arthritis (29.5%). The prescription duration was more than a year in 62.3% of cases, more than 30 mg/day in 82.35%. The most troublesome adverse event considered by practitioners was weight gain (63.5%), diabetes (50.6%), the trophic skin (41%), lipodystrophy (38.8%), imbalance blood pressure by 32 physicians and epigastric pain for 30. Neuropsychologic disorders were estimated by 23 (27%). Sixteen for osteonecrosis, and myopathy or cramps for 13. The remaining effects are represented by edema of lower limbs in 11 cases, and disorder cycle in 9 cases, shaking for 4 cases. Moreover, the degression protocol was gradually for the majority of patients; only 8 cases were fast and adjuvant measures were prescribed for all patients.

Discussion:: Our study showed as noted in the literature results that the side effects of corticosteroids are common, but rarely given systemically, mainly Alpharepresented by weight gain, diabetes, trophic disorders, lipodystrophy and imbalance in blood pressure.

Conclusion:: Better care for patients taking long-term corticosteroids requires regular control of systemic side effects for the optimized therapeutic compliance.