Mortality and Hypertension Risks with High‑Dose Systemic Corticosteroids

Mortality Risk

In elderly patients with comorbidities, daily systemic corticosteroid doses exceeding 40 mg prednisolone‑equivalent are linked to a markedly higher first‑year mortality rate compared with lower‑dose regimens (observational evidence). 1
The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) guidelines state that one‑year mortality is significantly increased in patients receiving high‑dose systemic corticosteroids, reinforcing the need for cautious dosing. 1

The BAD recommends routine blood‑pressure monitoring for any patient prescribed systemic corticosteroids at > 40 mg prednisolone‑equivalent per day, given the associated hypertensive risk. 1