Complications due to long term treatment with glucocorticosteroids, diagnosed by the clinicians and registered in the records for 191 patients. No complication which could be related to corticosteroid treatment was recorded in 63 of the 191 patient records (33%)
| Complication | No of patients | % |
|---|---|---|
| *32 compression fractures in vertebral column; three fractures of the distal ulna; and one fracture each of the following: collum femoris, subtrochanter, tibia, and fibula. | ||
| Osteoporosis | 50 | 26 |
| Cushingoid changes | 49 | 26 |
| Fractures (assumed osteoporosis related*) | 39 | 20 |
| Oedema | 37 | 19 |
| Infection problems | 24 | 13 |
| Gastrointestinal complaints | 20 | 10 |
| Cataract/glaucoma | 18 | 9 |
| Hypertension | 16 | 8 |
| Hyperglycaemia/diabetes mellitus | 15 | 8 |
| Dermal atrophy | 14 | 7 |
| Mental symptoms | 11 | 6 |
| Muscular atrophy | 4 | 2 |
| Thrombosis | 4 | 2 |
| Oral mucosal symptoms | 1 | 0.5 |