Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Glucocorticoid treatment in SLE is associated with infections, comorbidities and mortality—a national cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Results highlight the potential harm associated with even low OCS dose treatment in SLE
Study context
- Population
- All incident SLE cases, age >18 years, in Sweden 2005–2020, and matched population controls257,942 patient years
- Exposure
- Oral CS (OCS) dose categories vs no OCS
- Outcome
- Infections, comorbidities, malignancies and survival
Methodological detailsnational registry-based, matched population controls, time-dependent Cox regression
- National registry-based
- Matched population controls
- Time-dependent Cox regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Infections (pneumonia, influenza, herpes zoster, UTI), osteoporosis, osteonecrosis, gastroduodenal ulcers, cataracts, hypertension and mortality
- Compared with no OCS, >0 to <5.0 mg/day, 5.0-7.5 mg/day and >7.5 mg/day OCS each predicted these outcomes
- all P < 0.05
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
OCS treatment 5 years after diagnosis, by diagnosis period
P = 0.039
Patients taking OCS 15 years after diagnosis
- Patients taking OCS
- 48%
- Median OCS dose
- 5.7 mg/day
Original publication
Glucocorticoid treatment in SLE is associated with infections, comorbidities and mortality—a national cohort study. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 13 July 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →