What monitoring should be done for patients on long-term corticosteroid therapy?

Long-term corticosteroid therapy is associated with several potential side effects that need careful monitoring. One significant concern is weight gain, which can occur due to cortisol's effects on metabolism and appetite. This weight gain can lead to obesity-related complications if not managed properly.

Additionally, corticosteroids can contribute to the development of osteoporosis. They inhibit bone formation and can lead to increased bone resorption, making it crucial to monitor bone density over time, especially in patients with other risk factors for osteoporosis. This monitoring may include assessing bone density through imaging or evaluating calcium and vitamin D levels, as these nutrients are essential for bone health.

Regular blood pressure checks are certainly important, especially given that corticosteroids can lead to hypertension, but the more prominent side effects warrant specific attention to weight and bone health in the context of long-term therapy. While assessing lung function may be relevant for some patients, it is not a routine monitoring step related to the effects of corticosteroids themselves. Checking for allergic reactions can also be important but is less of a concern with longer-term usage than the chronic side effects of weight gain and osteoporosis in the context of corticosteroid therapy.