OP0254 Association between Steroid Therapy and Survival

Published Date: 19th July 2016

Publication Authors: Dawson J

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Background 

Clinically relevant interstitial lung disease (ILD) is present in approximately 5% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Traditionally, oral steroids have been used to treat this manifestation of RA, but no evidence base exists to support this. Indeed, concern has been raised that such an approach might be associated with increased mortality in ILD [1].

Objectives 

We have examined the effect of oral steroid therapy on mortality in a large multi centre group of patients retrospectively to assess the effect of these agents on survival.

Methods 

For the purposes of this study, we collected data from multiple centres across the UK on patients with both RA and ILD (proven on HRCT) identified over a 25 year period from 1987 to 2012 using a standard proforma. We analysed the age, duration of both RA and ILD, outcome and, where appropriate, cause of death. Equivalent data were obtained from a control group of RA patients from one centre without lung disease, matched for age, sex and disease duration. We recorded the number of patients with RA-ILD who had received oral prednisone therapy for 3 months or more. We used Chi squared tests to assess the significance of any differences in disease characteristics between those who had steroids and those who had not. We calculated relative risk (RR) of all cause and respiratory mortality in all patients with RA-ILD, and in those treated with steroids.

Results 

A total of 260 patients were identified from across the UK with proven RA-ILD. Steroids had been used in 154 (59%) RA-ILD patients, but only 36 (14%) controls, p=0.01. There were no differences between RA-ILD patients on steroids and those not on steroids with regard to age, gender, disease duration and extent of ILD, smoking, serology and lung function. However, steroid treated patients were significantly more likely to have usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), p=0.02. The RR of death from any cause was significantly increased in steroid treated RA-ILD patients [1.65 (1.2-2.3)], p=0.002, but was normal in those who had not received steroids [1.07 (0.7-1.6)]. The RR of respiratory death was more significantly increased in those who had been on steroids [2.75 (1.6-4.7)], p=0.0002, than in those who had not received steroids [2.06 (1.1-3.8)], p=0.02.

Conclusions 

Patients with RA-ILD have increased mortality over controls, and over half have been treated with oral steroids. These patients are at increased relative risk of death, especially from respiratory causes. The excess of UIP in the steroid treated group is likely to account for some of the excess mortality. This large retrospective multi centre study suggests long term oral steroids should be avoided where possible in patients with RA-ILD, and reflects earlier findings in patients with ILD alone.

Scott, K; Dawson, J et al. (2014).  OP0254 Association between Steroid Therapy and Survival in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Disease . Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 73 (Suppl 2), 157-58

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