Characteristics of the groups investigated: age, cumulative duration of glucocorticoid (GC) treatment and disease duration
| Group | No |
Age Mean (SD) [range] | GC treatment (years) Mean (range) |
Presence of disease (years) Mean (range) |
| RA | 29 | 53.6 (11.7) [20–70] | 3.5 (0–27) | 10.7 (0.5–36) |
| Vasculitis | 24 | 49.0 (15.8) [19–68] | 1.7 (0.5–6) | 3.7 (0.5–20) |
| Control | 30 | 41.3 (13.4) [22–67] | — | — |