Preferential prescribing of oral corticosteroids in Irish male asthmatic children.

Objective: To determine if there is a gender difference in the prescription of oral corticosteroids in asthmatic children (< 15 years).

Methods: 8072 asthmatics were identified on the basis that they received a prescription for either an inhaled beta-adrenoceptor agonist, an inhaled corticosteroid, inhaled cromoglycate/nedocromil sodium, oral xanthines or leukotriene antagonist. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined for the different asthma treatments for males compared with females.

Conclusions: Male asthmatic children were more likely (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.21,1.55, P < 0.001) to receive a prescription for an oral corticosteroid compared with their female counterparts suggesting a possible increased severity of their condition, rather than a different management of their disease. Male asthmatic children were less likely to be prescribed an antibiotic over the study period (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.77, 0.93, P < 0.001).