Steritas_Website_Asthma & Steroid-toxicity_Hero_1267x539pxl_VF1

Asthma
and the need for
proactive OCS Stewardship

Asthma patients are overexposed to steroids

Proactive oral corticosteroid stewardship is vital

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) estimates asthma affects 334 million people worldwide, 13 million of whom (4%) have severe, uncontrolled asthma despite attempts at treatment optimization.
 
While there has been a big push towards oral corticosteroids, even countries with “advanced” healthcare systems overly rely on glucocorticoids as the prevalent treatment paradigm.[1]
 
A study published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) has shown that direct measurement of steroid-toxicity (using the STOX® Suite) is a far better method of determining which patients would derive the most benefit from these new therapies than simply looking at recency or dosage of glucocorticoid exposure.[2]
 

Calls grow for greater protection of patients from steroids

 

Oral corticosteroid use is more widespread among patients than is recommended. Shockingly, studies show patients are unaware being prescribed oral steroids can be an indication their asthma is not well controlled, and many don't know innovative treatment alternatives may be available.
 
Read more

 

Steritas_ST0128_Asthma & OCS Stewardship_Blog_Image_1080x1080pxl_070824_VF

 

 

Steritas_ST0127_Asthma & Cost of Steroid Overuse_Blog_Image_1080x1080pxl_070824_VF

 

Steroid overuse linked with increased healthcare costs for asthma patients

 

While international guidelines recommend limiting the use of oral corticosteroids, evidence shows that 60% of patients with severe asthma receive chronic systemic steroid treatment, increasing their risk of experiencing adverse events associated with the use of oral glucocorticoids.
 
Read more

Individual susceptibilities vary widely

While biological treatments offer potential, their high cost means that reducing steroid-toxicity remains a critical focus for clinicians.
 
The introduction of the  STOX Suite enables researchers and clinicians to measure and monitor the steroid-toxicity encountered by patients. Studies using the Steritas GTI have shown that individual susceptibilities to steroid-toxicity vary widely.[2] In addition, they highlight that baseline steroid exposure is an unreliable variable upon which to base the start or continuation of a biologic agent.
 
Measuring steroid-toxicity systematically with the STOX Suite provides a more robust method of determining which patients would benefit most from switching away from oral corticosteroids. 

Now that steroid-toxicity can be measured prescribing patterns need to change

"Steroid use is prevalent among severe asthma patients, in part due to physician training that emphasizes the effectiveness of steroids rather than their potential dangers."

Jane McDowell, MBBS BSc PhD

Academic clinical lecturer at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland

Learn More
"The real-life burden of steroids is significant and there is substantial evidence across various disease states showing just how commonly these adverse events occur and at relatively low doses."

Jane McDowell, MBBS BSc PhD

Academic clinical lecturer at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland

Learn More

 

Steritas_STI_ST0125_Asthma & Real World Treatments_Linkedin_SQ_1080x1080pxl_070824_VF

 

Real-world treatment regimens vary dramatically

 

The healthcare options patients receive vary dramatically, with oral corticosteroid use more widespread in Europe than in the United States and South Korea.

 

Read more

Biologics and the need for steroid reduction strategies

 
Reducing steroid use in asthma patients receiving biologic therapies still poses a significant challenge. This is in part driven by poor clinical consensus about the speed at which steroids can and should be reduced. 

 

Read more

 

 

Steritas_ST0126_Asthma & Biologics_Blog_Image_1080x1080pxl_070824_VF

 

Breathe more easily by making the STOX Suite part of your program

The STOX Suite provides the first validated clinical outcome assessments of steroid-toxicity in children and adults

STOX Suite

References


  1. Stephen P. Bergin MD, Craig R. Rackley MD, Managing Respiratory Failure in Obstructive Lung Disease, Clinics in Chest Medicine https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccm.2016.07.006
  2. P. Jane McDowell, MBBSa, et.al. Quantification of Glucocorticoid-Associated Morbidity in Severe Asthma Using the Glucocorticoid Toxicity Index, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.08.032