Characteristics of oral glucocorticoid (GC) initiators, overall and according to the number of oral GC reimbursements over the year following treatment initiation (figures are percentages)
| All GC initiators | Short-term users* | Mid-term users* | Long-term users* | |
| n=206 759 | n=139 703 | n=63 267 | n=3789 | |
| Men | 42.0 | 43.3 | 39.1 | 44.4 |
| Age groups (years) | ||||
| 18–49 | 58.8 | 60.0 | 58.2 | 25.5 |
| 50–59 | 16.6 | 16.3 | 17.2 | 16.9 |
| 60–69 | 12.0 | 11.6 | 12.3 | 18.9 |
| 70–79 | 7.8 | 7.4 | 7.7 | 22.0 |
| ≥80 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 16.7 |
| Mean number of reimbursements/year (±SD) | 1.6 (±1.4) | 1* | 2.5 (±0.8) | 9.2 (±3.1) |
| Comorbidities at risk for GC users† | 10.6 | 10.0 | 10.9 | 24.5 |
| Diabetes | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 12.1 |
| Psychotic disorders | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 3.6 |
| Osteoporosis | 3.3 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 11.0 |
| Identified GC recognised indications† | 27.3 | 23.7 | 33.4 | 61.1 |
| Obstructive pulmonary diseases | 21.3 | 19.1 | 26.0 | 26.2 |
| Cancer | 6.4 | 4.9 | 8.2 | 31.9 |
| Rheumatic diseases | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 12.1 |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 5.7 |
| Polymyalgia rheumatica/giant cell arteritis | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 3.9 |
| Inflammatory bowel diseases | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 3.3 |
| Multiple sclerosis | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Concurrent drugs at index date | ||||
| Antibiotics | 59.1 | 60.6 | 57.7 | 23.9 |
| Respiratory/otological drugs‡ | 50.1 | 51.1 | 49.9 | 16.7 |
| Concurrent antibiotics and respiratory/otological drugs | 31.8 | 32.3 | 32.2 | 8.9 |
| Anti-inflammatory | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.9 | 7.2 |
| Analgesics | 46.0 | 46.5 | 45.6 | 34.6 |
*Short-term users: one reimbursement/year; mid-term users: 2–5 reimbursements/year; long-term users: ≥6 reimbursements.
†At least one comorbiditie or indication.
‡Nasal and throat preparations, antihistamines for systemic use, cough and cold preparations, and otological drugs.