IPD meta-analysis results of GC use after the initial GC bridging schedule in patients starting with GC bridging
| All included studies intercept only model | Sensitivity analysis (oral GC use only) | |||
| OR (95% CI) | Probability | OR (95% CI) | Probability | |
| Still/Again using oral GC xx months after bridging schedule ended*: | ||||
| 1 month | 0.22 (0.07 to 0.72) | 0.18 | 0.42 (0.33 to 0.53) | 0.3 |
| 3 months | 0.12 (0.06 to 0.23) | 0.11 | 0.16 (0.09 to 0.29) | 0.14 |
| 6 months | 0.07 (0.03 to 0.19) | 0.07 | 0.13 (0.05 to 0.29) | 0.12 |
| 12 months | 0.08 (0.03 to 0.21) | 0.07 | 0.14 (0.06 to 0.32) | 0.12 |
| 18 months | 0.08 (0.03 to 0.25) | 0.07 | 0.16 (0.06 to 0.40) | 0.14 |
| β (95% CI) | β (95% CI) | |||
| Mean cumulative GC dose (mg) at predefined time points from baseline: | ||||
| 6 months | 1218 (415 to 2021) | 1622 (727 to 2518) | ||
| 12 months | 2118 (1606 to 2631) | 2373 (1934 to 2812) | ||
| ≥3 months continuous GC use† (% yes) at predefined time points from baseline: | ||||
| 12 months | 0.22 (0.12 to 0.39) | 0.18 | 0.25 (0.14 to 0.48) | 0.2 |
| 24 months | 0.43 (0.25 to 0.72) | 0.3 | 0.47 (0.28 to 0.80) | 0.32 |
The β reported for mean cumulative dose should be interpreted as a mean cumulative dose as the intercept only model is presented here. This mean cumulative dose is adjusted for clustering of patients within study arms.
*Induction schedules, stop possible after: COBRA: 28 weeks (mandatory taper, stop at week 34), BeSt: 36 weeks, IDEA: GC intravenous administration once at baseline, COBRA light: 32 weeks, IMPROVED: 4 months (early remission and arm 2), 8 months (arm 1), tREACH: 10 weeks, CareRA: 34 weeks.
†Outside induction schedule and oral GC use.
CI, confidence interval; GC, glucocorticoids; IPD, individual patient data; mg, milligrams; OR, odds ratio.