Comparison of effects of oral prednisolone with oral methylprednisolone in Acute Exacerbations of COPD

Abstract

Background: Exacerbations are common in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy for treatment of acute exacerbation of COPD. The present study was carried out with an aim to compare the effects of 40mg oral prednisolone and an equivalent dose of 32mg oral methylprednisolone in patients with AECOPD. Methodology: This was a Hospital based analytical experimental study conducted on 44 admitted patients of Acute Exacerbation of COPD admitted at a tertiary care centre in central India over a period of one and a half years on 44. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A received 32mg methylprednisolone and Group B received 40 mg prednisolone respectively. Results: We observed that majority of the patients in both groups had symptom relief at the end of day 5 (Group A 72.2% vs. Group B 86.4%, p = 0.26). Mean length of hospital stay was similar in both the groups (Group A 9.09 days vs. Group B 8.77 days, p = 0.68). There was no difference in the number of patients who failed treatment in both the groups (p>0.26). Majority of the patients did not have any adverse effect (Group A 59.9% vs Group B 72.7%, p = 0.051). Conclusion: Five day course of either Oral systemic corticosteroid was sufficient in relieved symptoms in AECOPD patients. Side effects and LOHS were similar with both the steroids.