The Burden of Glucocorticoids: Patterns of Use, Adverse Health Conditions, and Health Care Use in Two Cohorts With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE

Glucocorticoids (GCs) can be beneficial from both clinical and patient perspectives, but side effects are well documented. We examined patterns of GC use over 15 years (2006-2021) and occurrence of adverse health conditions (AHCs) and health care use by GC exposure in two longitudinal cohorts with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

Data from the Lupus Outcomes Study (LOS; 2003-2015) and FORWARD cohort (2015-2021) were used. AHCs examined were diabetes, osteoporosis, nontraumatic fractures, cataracts, and infections. Health care use measures examined were the number of rheumatology and other provider visits, hospitalizations, and specific diagnostic tests. Kaplan-Meier analyses examined time to occurrence of each AHC. Cox regression analyses estimated the risk of occurrence of AHCs, controlling for covariates by GC use and by GC dose (0, 1-5, 5-7.5, and ≥7.5 mg).

RESULTS

GC use was relatively consistent over time. At baseline, individuals who used GCs in the LOS were more likely to report osteoporosis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-2.6) and cataracts (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.04-2.6); individuals who used GCs in the FORWARD cohort were more likely to report diabetes (aOR 5.1, 95% CI 2.2-12.0), osteoporosis (aOR 4.5, 95% CI 2.6-8.0), and fractures (aOR 6.5, 95% CI 3.8-11.1). Individuals who used high doses of GCs in the LOS had greater incidence of osteoporosis, fracture, and cataracts. In the FORWARD cohort, a significant difference in incidence was noted only for infections. In both cohorts, individuals who used GCs had more rheumatology and other physician visits, and greater risk of hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Despite recommendations on steroid sparing, a large portion of people with SLE appear to remain on steroids. These analyses provide additional evidence of the potential health and health care burden of GC use, underscoring the need for other effective treatments for individuals with SLE.