Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
A novel cohort to assess longitudinal glucocorticoid toxicity in individuals with rheumatic diseases: objectives, design, and initial baseline characteristics of the LONG-TOX cohort
Authors' conclusion
In this prospective cohort of individuals with autoimmune diseases, those with >6 months of GC exposure had higher baseline GC-related toxicity and lower quality-of-life than those with ≤ 6 months of exposure.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with rheumatic diseases receiving glucocorticoids (GCs) (mean age 59.2 years, 62 % female; most common PMR and/or GCA [41 %])initial enrolled in LONG-TOX
- Participants
- 90 adults
- Exposure
- >6 months vs ≤ 6 months of prior GC exposure
- Outcome
- Baseline GC toxicity by GT-SNAPSHOT (range: 0-1592); change in GC toxicity measured by Glucocorticoid Toxicity Index (GTI)
- Follow-up
- Baseline
Methodological detailsbaseline characteristics report, stratified by prior GC exposure duration
- Baseline characteristics report
- Stratified by prior GC exposure duration
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Baseline GT-SNAPSHOT score, median
>6 months
205
median
≤ 6 months
160
median
P = 0.08
- Overall median (IQR) baseline GT-SNAPSHOT score
- 165 (122, 251)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | >6 months | ≤ 6 months | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| SF-36 Energy/Fatigue score · baselineSignificantly lower | 35 | 50 | P = 0.01 |
| SF-36 General Health score · baselineSignificantly lower | 30 | 60 | P < 0.001 |
Prior cumulative GC use duration, median (IQR), overall · baseline
- Median (IQR) prior cumulative GC use duration
- 71 days (23, 605)
Original publication
A novel cohort to assess longitudinal glucocorticoid toxicity in individuals with rheumatic diseases: objectives, design, and initial baseline characteristics of the LONG-TOX cohort. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 11 December 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →