Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Real-world treatment patterns in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: associations with comorbidities and damage
Authors' conclusion
CVD and osteoporosis were more prevalent in SLE than in the general population. The dose and frequency of GC treatment in patients with SLE have decreased over the years. Prednisone usage in doses exceeding 5 mg/day is associated with significantly increased odds of osteoporosis and CVD.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the computerised database of a large health maintenance organisation, matched with subjects from the general population87.79% women
- Participants
- 1,073 patients
- Exposure
- Mean daily prednisone dose >5 mg/day vs ≤5 mg/day; SLE vs general population
- Outcome
- Association between GC cumulative daily doses, HCQ and comorbidities (osteoporosis, CVD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus)
Methodological detailsmatched with general population, multivariable logistic regression, health maintenance organisation database
- Matched with general population
- Multivariable logistic regression
- Health maintenance organisation database
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Comorbidities by mean daily prednisone dose
- Increased odds for comorbidities with mean daily prednisone >5 mg/day vs ≤5 mg/day
- Adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking, disease duration and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
HCQ initiation within 12 months of SLE diagnosis
- 2000
- 51.02%
- 2010
- 83.67%
- 2018
- 93.02%
Annual glucocorticoid (GC) usage
- 2000
- 45.34%
- 2020
- 30.76%
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and osteoporosis prevalence, SLE vs general population
- More prevalent in SLE than in the general population
Original publication
Real-world treatment patterns in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: associations with comorbidities and damage. Lupus Sci Med. Published 24 September 2024. doi:10.
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