Table 3

Risks of GC-related AEs based on placebo-controlled studies and studies without control group*

Placebo-controlled studies
AEDose range and applicationEvents/100 patient-years for GC usersEvents/100 patient-years for GC-naive patients
Osteoporosischronic medium dose intramuscular16
2		3
0
Cardiovascular disease (ie, myocardial infarction)chronic medium dose
step-down
intramuscular		0–1
1
0–1		0–1
0
0–1
Diabeteschronic medium dose
intramuscular		0–3
1		0–1
0
Weight gainintramuscular01
Renal dysfunctionchronic medium dose
step-down		1–6
0–17		0
0–1
Peptic ulcer diseasechronic medium dose1–40–2
Hypertensionchronic medium dose
step-down
intramuscular		3–28
0
4		0–19
0
1
Studies without control group
AEDose range and applicationEvents/100 patient-years for GC users
Osteoporosischronic medium dose
chronic high
step-down		1–3
2
0–23
Cardiovascular disease (ie, myocardial infarction)chronic medium dose
chronic high		0–1
0
Diabeteschronic medium dose
chronic high
step-down		0–13
1
0–18
Weight gainchronic medium dose
step-down		0–63
3–21
Renal dysfunctionchronic medium dose
step-down		9–13
5–40
Peptic ulcer diseasechronic medium dose
step-down		0–1
0
Hypertensionchronic medium dose
chronic high
step-down		0–63
2
0–38

  • *AEs that concern patients and rheumatologists most.63 These AEs should be discussed with patients when GC therapy is initiated.

  • Events per 100 patient years, based on information gained with the general literature search on medium/high-dose GC treatment, are given in this table (detailed information on all AEs reported is given in the tables of online supplementary appendix 2).

  • AE, adverse event; GC, glucocorticoid.