Modern Hydrocortisone Replacement Regimens in Adrenal Insufficiency Patients and the Risk of Adrenal Crisis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of adrenal crises (AC) and the prescription of short-acting glucocorticoids (GC) in different geographic areas. To do this we conducted a descriptive study of AC hospitalisations and prescriptions for two GCs (hydrocortisone (HC) and cortisone acetate (CA)), and fludrocortisone acetate (FA), in different geographic areas of Australia between 1999/2000 and 2011/2012, using government databases.

There were 2 584 hospital admissions for AC in Australia between 1999/00 and 2011/12 and the corresponding admission rates increased significantly from 7.4 to 11.1/10⁶/year (p<0.001). AC admission rates increased in 5 out of 6 geographic areas. Prescription rates for the combined GCs (HC/CA) increased at an annual rate of between 0.2–2.0% in all areas. All areas had significant (p<0.01) increases in HC prescription rates (4.5% to 13.7% annually) and CA prescription rates decreased in 5 out of the 6 regions (3.5% annual decrease to a 0.5% annual increase). When the geographic areas were combined, there was a significant correlation between the AC admission rates and HC/CA prescription rates (r=0.30, p<0.01). Admissions for AC and GC prescriptions increased significantly in Australia after 1999 and these varied significantly by geographic area. These results suggest that modern recommendations for lower dose, short-acting GC replacement may be of concern and further investigation is warranted.

Key words

adrenal insufficiency - adrenal crisis - glucocorticoid replacement - hydrocortisone - cortisone acetate

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