Black RJ, et al. - This study entails a cross-sectional survey, carried out in patients with rheumatic diseases in order to determine their perspectives on the beneficial and adverse effects (AEs) of glucocorticoids (GCs), to be used in the development of a patient-reported outcome measure. A large number of AEs associated with GC therapy were reported by patients and those that had the greatest life impact were often difficult for physicians to measure. These data will inform the development of a patient-reported outcome measure to capture the effects of GCs from the patient's perspective.

Methods

• Participants of this cross-sectional survey, capturing benefits and AEs of GC use, were divided into 2 groups: those attending a tertiary rheumatology clinic with various rheumatic diseases who had used GCs within the past year and patients from the Hospital for Special Surgery rheumatoid arthritis database.

Results

• A total of 55 GC users were included in Cohort 1, and cohort 2 comprised 95 GC users and 29 nonusers.
• At least 1 AE (100%, 86%) was reported by the majority of GC users in both cohorts.
• In cohort 1 vs GC users in cohort 2, the AE prevalence per person was found to be 50% higher (7.7 vs 5.3; AE ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–1.7) and it was 2-fold greater in cohort 2 GC users compared with GC nonusers (5.3 vs 2.6; AE ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.6–2.6).
• In both cohorts, skin thinning/easy bruising, sleep disturbance, mood disturbance, and change in facial shape were reported as the AEs identified as “worst” by GC users.
• Findings demonstrated that most felt GCs helped their disease “a lot” (78%/62%) and that the benefits were greater than the AEs (55%/64%).
• Compared with nonusers, many AEs were more frequent in GC users.