No excess risk of severe pneumonia with inhaled steroids for COPD (case/cohort study)

Singanayagam et al prospectively observed 490 COPD patients admitted for community acquired pneumonia with COPD; 77% were using inhaled corticosteroids. As would be expected, ICS users had worse COPD (higher GOLD stage) than non-ICS-users. There were no differences between cohorts in pneumonia severity, mortality at 30 or 180 days, or requirement for mechanical ventilation or vasopressors, after controlling for COPD severity and other variables. ERJ 2011;38:36-41.