About
Glucocorticoids (GC), more commonly known as steroids, are used to treat many inflammatory diseases. The GC Impact Group studies the good and bad effects of GCs. Side effects, or adverse effects, of GCs are common. Some are easily measured and can usually be controlled such as high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. Some are harder to control such as weight gain, osteoporosis (bone thinning) and cataracts. Effects such as mood and sleep disturbance, easy bruising and body shape changes are harder to measure. Certain effects are ‘events’, which are less common such as infections and fractures, whilst others are common ‘experiences’ that have variable effects such as weight gain, skin changes and sleep disturbance.
Another difficulty is knowing whether it is the GC, another medication used at the same time or the disease being treated leading to these effects is often difficult to work out. It is also not known which effects are most important and concerning to patients.
Current Stage in the OMERACT Process
This group is evaluating existing tools and developing new ones to better measure side effects of long-term steroid use. Their work aims to ensure patient-important harms are consistently captured.
Meet the Team
Catherine Hill, Australia
Chair
Susan Goodman, USA
Chair
Sarah Mackie, UK
Chair
Joanna Robson, UK
Chair
OMERACT Endorsed Core Domain Set for Glucocorticoid Impact
Recent Publications
- Lyne, Suellen A., et al. “Consensus of the Definitions of the OMERACT Glucocorticoid Impact Core Domain Set for People with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases.” Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, vol. 64, 152338, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2023.152338.
Tieu, Joanna, et al. “Improving Benefit-Harm Assessment of Glucocorticoid Therapy Incorporating the Patient Perspective: The OMERACT Glucocorticoid Core Domain Set.” Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, vol. 51, no. 5, 2021, pp. 1139–45, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2021.06.010.
Cheah, Jonathan T. L., et al. “The Patient’s Perspective of the Adverse Effects of Glucocorticoid Use: A Systematic Review of Quantitative and Qualitative Studies. From an OMERACT Working Group.” Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, vol. 50, no. 5, 2020, pp. 996–1005, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2020.06.019.
CHEAH, Jonathan TL, et al. “Towards a Core Domain Set for Glucocorticoid Impact in Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases: The OMERACT 2018 Glucocorticoid Impact Working Group.” Journal of Rheumatology, vol. 46, no. 9, 2019, pp. 1179–82, https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.181082.
Black, Rachel J., et al. “A Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Effect of Glucocorticoid Therapy in Adults with Inflammatory Diseases Is Needed: Report from the OMERACT 2016 Special Interest Group.” Journal of Rheumatology, vol. 44, no. 11, 2017, pp. 1754–58, https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.161083.