The use of corticosteroids in Swedish palliative care

Symptom and medication profiles among cancer patients attending a palliative care clinic

“…Although the reasons are not clear, it is likely that patients were prescribed steroids as an appetite stimulant (66% of patients reported appetite problems), as an adjuvant analgesic, and/or to treat fatigue. Similarly, a Swedish survey of 1,292 palliative care cancer patients and 300 physicians found that approximately 50% of the patients were using corticosteroids, and the most common indications for use were decreased appetite, fatigue, poor wellbeing, nausea, and pain [21]. While 57% of our population reported depressive symptoms in the first consultation, only 15% were already using antidepressants or had these added after palliative care consultation.…”

Efficacy and Undesirable Effects of Corticosteroid Therapy Experienced by Palliative Care Specialists in Japan: A Nationwide Survey

“…5,7,8 The physicians were first asked to report their rate of agreement regarding corticosteroid therapy using a non-Likert-type scale and to report on their actual clinical experiences regarding corticosteroid treatment of adult cancer patients with an estimated survival of 6 months or less who were not on anticancer treatment. The questions focused on corticosteroid therapy for the specific symptoms of anorexia, fatigue, and dyspnea, which were the most common indications for steroid therapy reported in the literature, because we speculated that the physicians' attitudes might differ for each of these symptoms.…”

Physician-Reported Corticosteroid Therapy Practices in Certified Palliative Care Units in Japan: A Nationwide Survey

“…3,6 However, long-term corticosteroid use has been reported. 4,7 Corticosteroid withdrawal has different effects such as fever and anorexia, 8 and may exacerbate terminal restlessness. 9 However, a universally accepted protocol for corticosteroid administration, especially for patients in the terminal stage, remains to be established.…”