Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Polypharmacy and comorbidities are not higher at diagnosis in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica compared to osteoarthritis
Authors' conclusion
At the time of diagnosis, PMR patients do not show an increased comorbidity index nor number of drugs assumed compared to OA controls.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) at diagnosis and sex and age-matched hand osteoarthritis (OA) controlsmatched controls
- Participants
- 84 vs 84
- Comparison
- PMR vs hand OA controls
- PMRn = 84
- OA controlsn = 84reference
- Outcome
- Polypharmacy (number of drugs) and comorbidities (Rheumatic Diseases Comorbidity Index, RDCI) at diagnosis
- Follow-up
- Diagnosis
Methodological detailssex and age-matched controls
- Sex and age-matched controls
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Number of drugs assumed
PMR
2.7
mean · SD 2.3
OA controls
3.1
mean · SD 2.5
P = 0.168
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | PMR | OA controls | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| RDCI · diagnosisMean | 1.56 (SD 1.29) | 1.51 (SD 1.38) | P = 0.62 |
| Distribution of drug count (no treatment / 1-5 drugs / >5 drugs) · diagnosis | P = 0.03 | ||
| No treatment | 16 | 5 | |
| 1-5 drugs | 56 | 67 | |
| >5 drugs | 12 | 12 |
Predictors of drug count and Rheumatic Diseases Comorbidity Index (RDCI)
- PMR with hip pain took fewer drugs
- P = 0.008
- PMR with morning stiffness (MS) >45 minutes took more drugs
- P = 0.001
- Drug count and RDCI correlated
- P < 0.001
- Drug count and RDCI directly associated with age
- P < 0.001
- Multiple logistic regression, drug count: age (direct)
- P = 0.004
- Multiple logistic regression, drug count: MS (direct)
- P = 0.025
- Multiple logistic regression, drug count: hip pain (inverse)
- P = 0.008
- Multiple logistic regression, drug count: fever (inverse)
- P = 0.015
- RDCI predictor: age (direct)
- P < 0.001
- RDCI predictor: white blood cells (direct)
- P = 0.011
- RDCI predictor: fever (inverse)
- P = 0.024
Original publication
Polypharmacy and comorbidities are not higher at diagnosis in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica compared to osteoarthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 9 March 2025. doi:10.
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