The risk of subsequent flare or damage accrual per 1 mg decrease of prednisolone in mSACQ patients with SLE assessed using Cox proportional hazard models
| Initial prednisolone-equivalent GC dosage (mg/day) | Overall flare HR (95% CI) | Severe flare HR (95% CI) | Damage accrual HR (95% CI) |
| 0≤ and ≤7.5 | 1.02 (0.99 to 1.05) | 0.98 (0.96 to 1.004) | 0.97 (0.96 to 0.99) |
| P value=0.27 | P value=0.11 | P value=0.007 | |
| 742 events | 271 events | 180 events | |
| 0≤ and ≤5 | 1.02 (0.98 to 1.06) | 0.98 (0.96 to 1.01) | 0.98 (0.96 to 1.01) |
| P value=0.41 | P value=0.28 | P value=0.25 | |
| 555 events | 197 events | 133 events | |
| 5< and ≤7.5 | 1.01 (0.96 to 1.06) | 0.98 (0.92 to 1.03) | 0.96 (0.93 to 0.99) |
| P value=0.84 | P value=0.41 | P value=0.007 | |
| 187 events | 74 events | 47 events |
Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the risk of subsequent flare or damage accrual per 1 mg decrease of prednisolone, adjusting for other covariates listed in table 3. Factors/covariates except ‘initial prednisolone-equivalent GC dosage’ were those at subsequent visits.
GC, glucocorticoid; mSACQ, modified serologically active clinically quiescent; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.