Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica

Incorporating frailty and disease severity into treatment decisions for older patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis

Rheumatology (Oxford)Published Retrospective cohort study

Authors' conclusion

Considering the enrichment for hospitalized patients with severe disease and advanced age, a mortality rate of 20% at 1 year that is comparable to less severe and younger cohorts suggests tailoring remission induction strategy according to a holistic assessment of frailty and disease activity may partially mitigate the higher risk of infection and mortality with advancing age.

Study context

Population
Hospitalized patients aged ≥75 years commencing remission induction with cyclophosphamide- or rituximab-based regimens for severe AAV, 2014–2021median age 79
Participants
84 patients
Exposure
Remission induction regimens: rituximab-cyclophosphamide combination, cyclophosphamide, standard-dose rituximab, low-dose rituximab
Outcome
One-year mortality
Follow-up
1 year
Methodological detailsMedian follow-up 21 months (IQR 12-44)
  • Median follow-up 21 months (IQR 12-44)

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

One-year mortality, overall

20%

One-year mortality by treatment group, in the order rituximab-cyclophosphamide combination, cyclophosphamide, standard-dose rituximab, low-dose rituximab

10%, 23%, 14% and 26%

Increasing age and higher mortality, HR

4.15 (1.62, 10.6) (95% CI)

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Mortality by increasing age

Increasing age, HR
4.15 (95% CI 1.62, 10.6)

Serious infection by increasing age

Increasing age, HR
1.18 (95% CI 0.47, 2.93)

Safety

Serious infection requiring hospital readmission · first year

Serious infection requiring readmission, overall
27%
Serious infection by treatment group, in the order rituximab-cyclophosphamide combination, cyclophosphamide, standard-dose rituximab, low-dose rituximab
37.5%, 23.8%, 25.8% and 31.6%
Increasing age and serious infection (not associated), HR
1.18 (0.47, 2.93) (95% CI)

Original publication

Incorporating frailty and disease severity into treatment decisions for older patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 25 May 2026. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keag275

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