Patients identify weight gain as most important glucocorticoid side effect

WASHINGTON — Patients identified weight gain as the most important glucocorticoid side effect, according to the results a survey analysis presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.

Ruth Costello, research assistant at the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre of the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, and colleagues posted a survey on healthunlocked.com and included only those who reported glucocorticoid use within the last month. In the survey, 604 responders ranked the importance of each side effect on a scale from one to 10. Of the participants, 81% were aged older than 50 years and 86% were female.

Researchers found a skew toward high importance for weight gain; a U-shaped distribution for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, eye disease and infections; and the lowest importance for acne. In the rank, weight gain was most important, followed by insomnia and “moon face,” all of which had a median rank of eight. The clinically serious side effects of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and infection were ranked with lower importance and had a wide range of scores.

Researchers wrote the less serious but high-impact side effects of weight gain, insomnia and moon face should be considered in the discussion for treatment options with patients. – by Will Offit

Reference:

Costello R, et al. Abstract #3189. Presented at: American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting; Nov. 11-16, 2016; Washington.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.