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COPD exacerbations: 5-day prednisone course works as well as 14-day regimen

August 30, 2013
  • Advising on this article:
  • Devra K. Dang

KEY POINT

In adults being treated for an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a 5-day course of prednisone was associated with similar re-exacerbation rates and time to re-exacerbation as compared with a conventional 14-day prednisone course.

SOURCES

Leupi JD et al. Short-term vs. conventional glucocorticoid therapy in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the REDUCE randomized trial. JAMA. 2013;309:2223–31.

Sin DD et al. Steroids for treatment of COPD exacerbations: less is clearly more [editorial]. JAMA. 2013;309:2272–3.

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