Management of glucocorticoid replacement in adrenal insufficiency shows notable heterogeneity - data from the EU-AIR

• Context and objectiveTreatment for adrenal insufficiency (AI) remains suboptimal. Despite glucocorticoid replacement, patients with AI have reduced life expectancy and quality of life. This study aimed to describe the spectrum of management of glucocorticoid replacement in patients with AI enrolled in the European Adrenal Insufficiency Registry (EU-AIR). Design, setting and patientsEU-AIR is a prospective, multinational, multicentre, observational study initiated in August 2012 to monitor the long-term safety of glucocorticoid replacement in routine clinical practice in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01661387). This analysis included 1166 patients with primary and secondary AI (mean disease duration 16amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;1 11amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;6 years) receiving long-term glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Main outcome measureGlucocorticoid type, dose, frequency and treatment regimen were examined. ResultsMost patients (87amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;4%) were receiving hydrocortisone. The most common dose range, taken by 42amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;2% of patients, was 20 to amp;lt;25 mg/day; however, 12amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;6% were receiving doses of 30 mg/day. Hydrocortisone was being taken once daily by 5amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;5%, twice daily by 48amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;7%, three times daily by 43amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;6% and four times daily by 2amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;1%. Patients with primary AI received higher replacement doses than those with secondary AI (23amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;4 +/- 8amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;9 and 19amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;6 +/- 5amp;lt;boldamp;gt;amp;lt;/boldamp;gt;9 mg/day, respectively). Twenty-five different regimens were being used to deliver a daily hydrocortisone dose of 20 mg. ConclusionsWe have shown significant heterogeneity in the type, dose, frequency and timing of glucocorticoid replacement in real-world clinical practice. This reflects dose individualization based on patient symptoms and lifestyle in the absence of data supporting the optimal regimen.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Anestesi och intensivvård (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (hsv//eng)

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