Use of corticosteroids for remission induction therapy in patients with new-onset ulcerative colitis in real-world settings

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of patients newly diagnosed with UC.

Item	n = 2,873 [ ]: %
Sex
Male	1,759[61.2]
Female	1,114[38.8]
Age[years]	38.1 ± 12.3
0–24	408[14.2]
25–64	2,431[87.4]
65–74	34[1.2]
Medical institution where patient was diagnosed with UC
University hospital	205[7.1]
National/Public hospital	279[9.7]
Clinic^a	1,274[44.3]
Other hospital^b	1,115[38.8]

^aClinics with less than 20 beds.

^bHospital with 20 or more beds other than national/public hospital or university hospital.

Table 2. Demographics and characteristics of patients with UC who could be followed for 1 year after initiation of steroid use.

Item	n = 399 [ ]: %
Sex
Male	240[60.2]
Female	159[39.8]
Age[years]	36.2 ± 13.1
0–24	75[18.8]
25–64	318[79.7]
65–74	6[1.5]
Medical institution
University hospital	49[12.3]
National/Public hospital	64[16.0]
Clinic^a	115[28.8]
Other hospital^b	171[42.9]

^aClinic with less than 20 beds.

^bHospital with 20 or more beds other than national/public hospital or university hospital.

Figure 1. Usage of corticosteroids, immunomodulators and TNFαs for patients newly diagnosed with UC. *p-value was calculated using Cochran-Armitage test (p < 0.001) for usage of corticosteroids.

Figure 2. Duration between the diagnosis of UC and the first prescription of corticosteroids.

Table 3. Demographics and characteristics of patients who continued to use steroids for 6 months.

Item	n = 46 [ ]: %
Sex
Male	25[54.3]
Female	21[45.7]
Age[years]	36.1 ± 14.1
Mean cumulative dose(mg)±SD	2,232 ± 1,163.1
Median cumulative dose(P25, P75)	2,057.5(1,440.0, 2,057.5)
Number of patients with high-dose steroids^a	34[73.9]
Use of immunosuppressants
Patients using immunosuppressants	42[91.3]
Patients not using immunosuppressants	4[8.7]
Medical institution
University hospital	8[17.4]
National/Public hospital	6[13.0]
Clinic^b	20[43.5]
Other hospital^c	12[26.1]

^aCumulative dose over 6 months after initiation of steroids ≥ 1500mg.

^bClinic with less than 20 beds.

^cHospital with 20 or more beds other than national/public hospital or university hospital.

Figure 3. Kaplan-Meier curves for the time of steroid free to the start of treatment steroid within 6 months. *p-value was calculated using Wilcoxon test (p = 0.0427, 2009 vs 2013).

Figure 4. Factors affecting the heavy corticosteroid use (≧1,500 mg of prednisone or equivalent in a 6 month period) identified by multiple logistic regression analysis. *p-value was calculated using Wald’s chi-square test. CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio.