Table 1 Basic characteristics of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) exposed/non-exposed and giant cell arteritis (GCA) exposed/non-exposed, stratified by steroid use in the 1-year period prior to outcome
PMR | GCA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Variables | Present N = 12,136 n (%) | Non-present N = 46,238 n (%) | Present N = 2673 n (%) | Non-present N = 10,423 n (%) |
Follow up time; median (IQR) | 9.27 (5.74–12.36) | 9.59 (5.97–12.61) | 9.13 (5.87–12.38) | 9.97 (6.23–13.00) |
Total fractures | 1689 (13.92) | 5173 (11.19) | 371 (13.88) | 1,142 (10.96) |
Fracture site | ||||
Wrist | 464 (27.47) | 1568 (30.31) | 118 (31.81) | 356 (31.17) |
Vertebra | 276 (16.34) | 482 (9.32) | 72 (19.41) | 123 (10.77) |
Humerus | 220 (13.03) | 693 (13.40) | 35 (9.43) | 145 (12.70) |
Hip | 563 (33.33) | 1844 (35.65) | 115 (31.00) | 419 (36.69) |
Other | 166 (9.83) | 586 (11.33) | 31 (8.36) | 99 (8.67) |
Male, n (%) | 3729 (30.73) | 14,078 (30.45) | 774 (28.96) | 2981 (28.60) |
Mean age (SD) | 72.04 (9.70) | 71.49 (9.52) | 71.12 (9.91) | 70.69 (9.76) |
Body mass index, kg/m2 | ||||
< 18.5 | 161 (1.33) | 676 (1.46) | 42 (1.57) | 140 (1.34) |
18.5–25 | 3723 (32.55) | 14,031 (30.35) | 795 (29.74) | 3102 (29.76) |
25–30 | 3950 (32.55) | 13,401 (28.98) | 844 (31.58) | 2941 (28.22) |
> 30 | 1919 (15.81) | 6200 (13.41) | 417 (15.60) | 1412 (13.55) |
Missing | 2383 (19.64) | 11,930 (25.80) | 575 (21.51) | 2828 (27.13) |
Current smoker | ||||
Yes | 1568 (12.92) | 6045 (13.07) | 500 (18.71) | 1454 (13.95) |
No | 9286 (76.52) | 32,579 (70.46) | 1858 (69.51) | 7111 (68.22) |
Missing | 1282 (10.56) | 7614 (16.47) | 315 (11.78) | 1858 (17.83) |
Alcohol (units per week) | ||||
Never/Ex-drinker | 2972 (24.49) | 10,000 (21.63) | 708 (26.49) | 2329 (22.34) |
1–9 | 3285 (27.07) | 12,087 (26.14) | 705 (26.37) | 2589 (24.84) |
≥ 10 | 1453 (11.97) | 5247 (11.35) | 275 (10.29) | 1105 (10.60) |
Missing | 4426 (36.47) | 18,904 (40.88) | 985 (36.85) | 4400 (42.21) |
Consultation for falls | 3771 (31.07) | 11,504 (24.88) | 849 (31.76) | 2612 (25.06) |
Charlson comorbidity index; median (IQR) | 3 (1–4) | 1 (0–3) | 2 (1–4) | 1 (0–3) |
Proton pump inhibitors | 7715 (63.57) | 20,710 (44.79) | 1749 (65.43) | 4670 (44.80) |
Bisphosphonate | 1479 (12.19) | 829 (1.79) | 413 (15.45) | 194 (1.86) |
Methotrexate | 706 (5.82) | 211 (0.46) | 122 (4.56) | 53 (0.51) |
> 1 Glucocorticoid prescription after index | 10,738 (88.48) | 5894 (12.75) | 2232 (83.50) | 1443 (13.84) |
Glucocorticoids treatment length; Median months (IQR) | 15.74 (6.51–34.36) | 0.99 (0.23–3.07) | 12.93 (4.01–32.49) | 1.05 (0.23–5.13) |