Steroid side effects surveys

Asthma UK is interested in the concerns that people with asthma have about steroid treatments for asthma (corticosteroids) and the effect that these concerns have on how they take their medicine.

In a joint project with Professor Rob Horne (based at the Centre for Behavioural Medicine within the School of Pharmacy in London) and Education for Health, we developed some questionnaire surveys to enable us to understand more about this subject, and asked people affected by asthma and healthcare professionals for their perspectives on it.

The closing date for the completion of surveys from people with asthma and parents or carers of children with asthma was Friday 19 September 2008. We received over 2,500 questionnaires, which we will now be analysing so watch this space for a summary of the results soon!

These questionnaires, intended for people with asthma and parents or carers of children with asthma, aimed to establish:

  • their experiences of side effects
  • the level of information they have received about side effects
  • their use or their child’s use of steroid treatments
  • their approach to dealing with concerns about side effects
  • how they respond to their concerns
  • future needs they may have to help overcome concerns about steroids.

There were two separate questionnaires for:

  • People with asthma who are currently receiving a steroid treatment (by inhaler or tablet) for their asthma or have done within the last three years.
  • Parents or carers of children with asthma who are currently receiving a steroid treatment (by inhaler or tablet) for their child’s asthma or have done within the last three years.

What are steroids?

Steroids are given as inhalers to help prevent asthma attacks; the inhaler usually contains a low dose of steroid and is known as a preventer. In some cases steroids can also be given as tablets, usually to treat asthma attacks, and the tablets therefore contain a higher dose of steroid.

Steroid inhalers
Inhaled steroids are normally found in brown, purple, red, pink or orange preventer inhalers. Preventers do not give immediate or quick relief when you are breathless. However they do control the swelling and inflammation in the airways which cause asthma symptoms on a long-term basis, stopping them from being so sensitive and reducing the risk of severe attacks.

Steroid tablets 
If your asthma symptoms become severe, your doctor or asthma nurse may give you a short course (usually 3-14 days) of steroid tablets. Steroid tablets work quickly and effectively to help to calm your inflamed airways. Short courses of steroid tablets are also used to treat acute asthma attacks and are used for essential emergency treatment of asthma attacks.

Steroid tablets are normally red or white tablets, and may be known as Prednisolone.

This survey has been supported by a financial grant from GlaxoSmithKline plc, Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited and Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd.