@article {Mazzantinijrheum.110851, author = {Maurizio Mazzantini and Claudia Torre and Mario Miccoli and Angelo Baggiani and Rosaria Talarico and Stefano Bombardieri and Ombretta Di Munno}, title = {Adverse Events During Longterm Low-dose Glucocorticoid Treatment of Polymyalgia Rheumatica: A Retrospective Study}, elocation-id = {jrheum.110851}, year = {2012}, doi = {10.3899/jrheum.110851}, publisher = {The Journal of Rheumatology}, abstract = {Objective To assess the occurrence of adverse events in a cohort of patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), treated with low-dose glucocorticoids (GC). Methods This was a retrospective study by review of medical records. Results We identified 222 patients who had a mean duration of followup of 60 {\textpm} 22 months and a mean duration of GC therapy of 46 {\textpm} 22 months. We found that 95 patients (43\%) had at least 1 adverse event after a mean duration of GC therapy of 31 {\textpm} 22 months and a mean cumulative dose of 3.4 {\textpm} 2.4 g. In particular, 55 developed osteoporosis, 31 had fragility fractures; 27 developed arterial hypertension; 11 diabetes mellitus; 9 acute myocardial infarction; 3 stroke; and 2 peripheral arterial disease. Univariate analysis showed that the duration of GC treatment was significantly associated with osteoporosis (p \< 0.0001), fragility fractures (p \< 0.0001), arterial hypertension (p \< 0.005), and acute myocardial infarction (p \< 0.05). Cumulative GC dose was significantly associated with osteoporosis (p \< 0.0001), fragility fractures (p \< 0.0001), and arterial hypertension (p \< 0.01). The adverse events occurred more frequently after 2 years of treatment. Multivariate analysis showed that GC duration was significantly associated with osteoporosis (adjusted OR 1.02, 95\% CI 1.02{\textendash}1.05) and arterial hypertension (adjusted OR 1.03, 95\% CI 1.01{\textendash}1.06); GC cumulative dose was significantly associated with fragility fractures (adjusted OR 1.4, 95\% CI 1.03{\textendash}1.8). Conclusion Longterm, low-dose GC treatment of PMR is associated with serious adverse events such as osteoporosis, fractures, and arterial hypertension; these adverse events occur mostly after 2 years of treatment.}, issn = {0315-162X}, URL = {https://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2012/01/12/jrheum.110851}, eprint = {https://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2012/01/12/jrheum.110851.full.pdf}, journal = {The Journal of Rheumatology} }