[Inhaled corticosteroid treatment increases the risk of pneumonia in patients with CPOD.]

Clinical studies have suggested that inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) increases the frequency of pneumonia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This article summarizes the risk of pneumonia by reviewing the largest clinical studies addressing pneumonia as an adverse effect of ICS treatment. The collected data show that treatment of COPD patients with ICS increases the rate of pneumonia compared with b2-agonists or placebo. Physicians are recommended to follow guidelines and solely treat COPD patients with ICS if the patients are at high risk of exacerbations.