Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26041488›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2015

A long-term, observational cohort study on the safety of low-dose glucocorticoids in ankylosing spondylitis: adverse events and effects on bone mineral density, blood lipid and glucose levels and body mass index.

Yu-Ping Zhang, Yao Gong, Qing Yu Zeng, Zhi-Duo Hou, Zheng-Yu Xiao

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.9field-weighted citation impact, top 15% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Observational
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Yu-Ping ZhangDepartment of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
Yao GongDepartment of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China Research Unit of Rheumatology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
Qing Yu ZengDepartment of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China Research Unit of Rheumatology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
Zhi-Duo HouDepartment of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
Zheng-Yu XiaoDepartment of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
Shantou University · CNShantou University Medical College · CNFirst Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study aimed to investigate the risk of adverse events and effects on bone mineral density (BMD), blood lipid and glucose levels and body mass index (BMI) of low-dose glucocorticoid (GC) treatment in ankylosing spondylitis.

designWe performed a retrospective, observational cohort study. Adverse effects were compared between GC users and non-GC users, and we analysed differences in the duration of GC exposure (no GC exposure, <6 months, 6 months to 2 years and >2 years).

settingOutpatient clinic in a tertiary general hospital in China, rheumatology follow-up visits over the past 30 years.

participantsWe included 830 patients with ankylosing spondylitis who were followed up for at least 6 months without a previous history or current complications of active gastrointestinal problems, hypertension, psychiatric or mental problems, diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis and hepatitis. The median follow-up time was 1.6 years (range 0.5-15 years, a total of 1801 patient-years).

resultsA total of 555 (66.9%) patients were treated with low-dose GCs, and the median cumulative duration of GC therapy was 1.3 years (range 0.1-8.5 years). Dermatological incidents, including acne, bruisability and cutaneous infections, were the most common adverse events, with a cumulative incidence rate of 5.4% (22.2 events per 1000 patient-years), followed by a puffy and rounded face (1.6%), symptoms of weight gain (1.1%) and serious infections (1.0%). The rates of all other types of adverse events were less than 1%. The GC groups (GC users and non-GC users) and the duration of GC therapy were not associated with the frequency of low BMD, dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia or obesity (p<0.05).

conclusionsAdverse events during long-term treatment of low-dose GCs are limited. Low-dose GCs do not have an adverse effect on BMD, blood lipid and glucose levels and BMI.

Indexed as

Body Mass IndexAdolescentAdultBlood GlucoseBone and BonesBone DensityChinaFemaleFollow-Up StudiesGlucocorticoidsHumansInfectionsLipidsLumbar VertebraeMaleOsteoporosisBlood GlucoseGlucocorticoidsLipidsankylosing spondylitisbone densityGlucocorticoidslipids

Identifiers

PMID26041488
PMCPMC4458632
OpenAlexW2225176156

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.