Vasculitis & polymyalgia rheumatica
Trajectory analysis of glucocorticoid treatment highlights issues in the current tapering strategy for polymyalgia rheumatica
Authors' conclusion
GBTM analysis indicates that many patients who do not discontinue GC use within 1 year are exposed to high cumulative GC doses, which are associated with an elevated risk of GC-related toxicities.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with PMR aged ≥50 years initiated on 5-<30 mg/day glucocorticoid (GC) with increased inflammatory markers, electronic medical record database, Japan
- Participants
- 452 patients
- Exposure
- Rapidly-declining vs Low-dose vs Intermediate-dose vs High-dose
- Outcome
- GC treatment patterns (trajectories)
- Follow-up
- 52 weeks
Methodological detailselectronic medical record database, group-based trajectory modelling
- Electronic medical record database
- Group-based trajectory modelling
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
GC treatment trajectories (proportion of patients)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Median, mg/day
| Outcome | Low-dose | Intermediate-dose | High-dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| GC dose · week 52 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 7.5 |
GC dose · week 52
- Low-, intermediate- and high-dose groups had higher cumulative doses than the rapidly declining group, which was reduced to 0 mg/day by week 8
Cumulative incidence of immunosuppressant use · week 52
- Cumulative incidence across trajectory groups, even in the high-dose group
- 6.1%-10.5%
Original publication
Trajectory analysis of glucocorticoid treatment highlights issues in the current tapering strategy for polymyalgia rheumatica. RMD Open. Published 25 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →