Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Patient perspectives on the impact of appearance and weight changes attributed to systemic glucocorticoid treatment of rheumatic diseases
Authors' conclusion
Patients attribute a variety of impacts on their quality of life to glucocorticoid-related appearance changes.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with rheumatic conditions receiving GC in the UK, USA and Australia; age 26–84 years; 39 (65%) female; systemic vasculitis, inflammatory arthritis, crystal arthropathy, connective tissue disorders, other/multiple60 interviews analysed · systemic vasculitis 19 · inflammatory arthritis 14 · crystal arthropathy 2 · connective tissue disorders 16 · other/multiple 9
- Participants
- 60 patients
- Primary endpoint
- Patients' perspectives on the impact of appearance changes attributed to GC treatment
Methodological detailssecondary inductive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews, secondary analysis of the 'Steroid PRO' interviews, UK, USA and Australia
- Secondary inductive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews
- Secondary analysis of the 'Steroid PRO' interviews
- UK, USA and Australia
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Themes on impact of GC-attributed appearance changes
- Need for more information and support expressed
- Theme (i): societal norms — real or perceived expectations participants felt pressure to conform to, sustained through interactions with others
- Theme (ii): harms to mental health and sense of self — GC made participants 'not look like' themselves, with changes in mood and self-confidence
- Theme (iii): burden of adjustments — e.g. wardrobe, diet, exercise, work, hobbies, activities of daily living and key life events
Original publication
Patient perspectives on the impact of appearance and weight changes attributed to systemic glucocorticoid treatment of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 3 March 2025. doi:10.
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