Use of inhaled corticosteroids and the risk of non-fatal acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Use of inhaled corticosteroids may reduce the risk of acute myocardial infarction (MI) through reductions in systemic inflammation and C-reactive protein.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between the use of inhaled corticosteroids and the risk of non-fatal acute MI.

METHODS: In the Dutch PHARMO record linkage system database, we conducted a case-control study (2476 MI cases), nested in a cohort of antihypertensive drug users. The use of inhaled corticosteroids 100 days before the index date was compared with never use. We adjusted the analyses for the severity of the underlying respiratory disease and general drug and disease history.

RESULTS: We found that the use of inhaled corticosteroids was not associated with a decreased risk of non-fatal MI in antihypertensive drug users after adjustment for the underlying respiratory disease severity, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97-1.57. A higher daily dose (adjusted OR 1.82, 95% CI 0.80-4.13) and longer duration of use (adjusted OR 1.28, 95% CI 0.90-1.81) were not associated with a decreased risk of non-fatal MI. An inhaled corticosteroid dispensing in the 30 days before the index date was not protective but resulted in a 1.7-fold increased risk of non-fatal MI.

CONCLUSION: Our results do not support the hypothesis that inhaled corticosteroids protect against the risk of non-fatal MI by a reduction of systemic inflammation.