Efficacy of interrupted cyclic treatment with prednisolone on cancer pain: a randomized crossover study

Ain-Shams Journal of Anesthesiology

Table 3 Glucocorticoid side effects

Variable	Basal value	Study result	P value
Myopathy (yes/no)
Stage(A)-Glucocorticoid every 2nd day	11/28(28.2%)	6/33(15.38%)	0.170
Stage (B)-Glucocorticoid every 4th day	11/28(28.2%)	9/30(15.38%)	0.604
Appetite loss (yes/no)
Stage (A)-Glucocorticoid every 2nd day	39/0(100%)	25/14(64.1%)	≤ 0.001
Stage (B)-Glucocorticoid every 4th day	39/0(100%)	32/7(82%)	0.006
Insomnia (yes/no)
Stage (A)-Glucocorticoid every 2nd day	13/26(33.3%)	6/33(15.38%)	0.065
Stage (B)-Glucocorticoid every 4th day	13/26(33.3%)	8/31(20.5%)	0.202
Serum creatinine	0.92 ± 0.22	1 ± 0.23	0.063
AST	22(10–72)	32(17–126)	0.391
ALT	22(9–49)	29(13–129)	0.292

Legend: this table shows significant decrease in appetite loss after oral glucocorticoid adjuvant to WHO stepladder analgesics compared to basal values with no significant difference as regards myopathy, insomnia, kidney function (serum creatinine), and hepatic function (AST, ALT). Data are in median and range except for serum creatinine is in mean and standard deviation and Myopathy, loss of appetite, and insomnia were in number and percent%. Cross tab chi-square statistical test was used for comparison of non-parametric data and t test for parametric data. P value was significant if < 0.05