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Preferential prescribing of oral corticosteroids in Irish male asthmatic children
Author(s) -
Williams David,
Kelly Alan,
Feely John
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1046/j.0306-5251.2001.01397.x-i1
Subject(s) - medicine , asthma , corticosteroid , nedocromil sodium , medical prescription , leukotriene receptor , salbutamol , odds ratio , confidence interval , nedocromil , anesthesia , placebo , respiratory disease , leukotriene , pharmacology , alternative medicine , pathology , lung
Aims To determine if there is a gender difference in the prescription of oral corticosteroids in asthmatic children (< 15 years). Methods 8072 asthmatics were identified on the basis that they received a prescription for either an inhaled β‐adrenoceptor agonist, an inhaled corticosteroid, inhaled cromoglycate/nedocromil sodium, oral xanthines or leukotriene antagonist. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined for the different asthma treatments for males compared with females. Results and conclusions Male asthmatic children were more likely (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.21,1.55, P < 0.001) to receive a prescription for an oral corticosteroid compared with their female counterparts suggesting a possible increased severity of their condition, rather than a different management of their disease. Male asthmatic children were less likely to be prescribed an antibiotic over the study period (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.77, 0.93, P < 0.001).