Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Glucocorticoids prescribing practices in systemic sclerosis: an analysis of the EUSTAR database
Authors' conclusion
GCs are widely and long-term prescribed in SSc, with significant between-countries and within-country differences. A gradual decrease in their utilization has been observed.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with SSc with a visit recorded in the EUSTAR database from January 2013 onward
- Participants
- 9,819 patients
- Outcome
- Prevalence of long-term exposure to GCs
Methodological detailsEUSTAR database analysis, multivariable linear regression, multiple imputation with chained equations
- EUSTAR database analysis
- Multivariable linear regression
- Multiple imputation with chained equations
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Patients on GCs at baseline
- On glucocorticoids (GCs) at baseline (n = 2769/8109)
- 34%
- dcSSc on GCs
- 48%
- lcSSc on GCs
- 29%
- Median GC dose (mg/day)
- 7.5
- Proportion of follow-up time on GCs among users, on average (no significant between-subsets difference)
- 25%
- Patients followed >1 year who received GCs >6 months (n = 971/2959)
- 33%
- Patients followed >1 year who received GCs >12 months (n = 647/2959)
- 22%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Factors associated with GC exposure duration (multivariable analysis)
- Patient and disease characteristics poorly explained variability in GC exposure: adjusted-R2 (P < 0.001)
- 0.06
- GC users more frequently males and anti-Scl70 positive, more commonly dcSSc and more severe disease
GC utilization over time
- GC utilization in 2013
- 36%
- GC utilization in 2018
- 23%
- GC utilization varied within and across countries
Original publication
Glucocorticoids prescribing practices in systemic sclerosis: an analysis of the EUSTAR database. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 13 September 2022. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →