Table 4 Patients enrolled in the national database 2003 who were unexposed to glucocorticoids in the past 12 months or were on glucocorticoids for more than 6 months by glucocorticoid dose (without cases also enrolled in the OM): patient characteristics and their adverse event rates (%) compared with the patterns identified in the OM

	No glucocorticoids in past 12 months	Glucocorticoid intake >6 months
	No glucocorticoids in past 12 months	⩽7.5 mg/day	>7.5 mg/day	Match of pattern
Patient characteristics
No of cases	1326	1529	85
Female	79%	78%	62%
Age, in years (mean)	61.2	62.3	58.6
Disease duration, in years (mean)	12.4	13.7	13.2
Severe disease, physician rating	6%	23%	45%
In women	6%	24%	47%
In men	6%	19%	42%
Expected pattern of adverse events
“Linear” rising
Cushingoid phenotype	1.4	6.9	35.4	√
Ecchymosis	7.2	19.2	36.9	√
Leg oedema	8.6	13.3	23.1	√
Mycosis	4.3	5.4	9.2	√
Parchment-like skin	2.9	17.0	24.6	√
Shortness of breath	10.3	13.4	16.9	√
Sleep disturbance	22.1	22.8	36.9	Threshold at >7.5 mg/day
Threshold at
<5 mg/day
Eye cataract	5.7	6.9	9.2	“Linear”
5–7.5 mg/day
Epistaxis	3.1	4.1	6.2	“Linear” (√)
Weight gain	10.2	14.7	27.7	“Linear” (√)
>7.5 mg/day
Depression, listlessness	10.5	11.8	15.4	√
Glaucoma	3.4	3.4	4.6	(√)
Increase in blood pressure	17.6	17.9	29.2	√

OM, osteoporosis module.