Incidence of infections associated with oral glucocorticoid dose in people diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica or giant cell arteritis: a cohort study in England

BACKGROUND:

Most patients with polymyalgia rheumatica or giant cell arteritis are treated with glucocorticoid therapy in primary care. We estimated dose–response risks of infection for this population in England.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective record-linkage study involving a cohort of people with polymyalgia rheumatica or giant cell arteritis registered in family practices across England (1998–2017). Estimates of first...