People With Adrenal Insufficiency Who Are in Adrenal Crisis Are Frequently Unable to Self-Administer Rescue Injections
Authors' conclusion
Effective, timely, management of an impending adrenal crisis can prevent progression to hospitalization, multisystem failure requiring intensive care unit care, and death. Reliance solely on patient self-injection may result in worse outcomes. Treating physicians should include patient education about injections and specific practical instruction in the technique, as well as the potential need for assistance in a crisis. US Food and Drug Administration approval of a glucocorticoid autoinjector, greater engagement with Emergency Medical Services clinicians, hospital emergency staff, and other health care professionals, is key for future success in managing adrenal crises.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals with adrenal insufficiency (AI) or their caregivers, surveyed via the National Adrenal Diseases Foundation website in 2022, reporting adrenal crisis events requiring an emergency cortisol injection
- Outcome
- Inability to self-administer an emergency glucocorticoid injection
Methodological detailsonline survey
- Online survey
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Patients with AI unable to self-administer an emergency glucocorticoid injection
41%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Bad outcomes after failed injections (sicker, need for hospitalization, or death)
- Failed injections leading to bad outcomes
- 36% of cases
Original publication
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