Evaluation of the effect of long-term use of glucocorticoids on the risk of developing diabetes mellitus in patients with gout

BACKGROUND: Patients with gout often take glucocorticoids  (GCs) and are at high risk of developing  type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2).AIM: Evaluation of the effect of long-term use of low doses of GCs on the risk of developing DM in patients with gout based on the results of a retrospective observationMATERIALS AND METHODS: 317 out of 444 patients with gout and no DM2 who participated in a prospective study of risk factors for DM2 were included. The sample did not include patients who used GCs during  the observation period to relieve an acute attack of arthritis, regardless of the method of their use (n=88) and who did not complete the study (n=39). The remaining  patients were retrospectively divided  into 2 groups: those who continuously  took prednisolone  at a dose of 5-10 mg/day for ≥180 days and did not use GCs during the observation period. Scheduled visits were carried out at least once every 2 years. During  the 1st visit, patients were prescribed or corrected both urate-lowering and prophylactic  antiinflammatory therapy, including  low doses of GCs. The primary end point was the development of DM2, carbohydrate metabolism indicators (HbA1c  levels, serum glucose levels) were compared at baseline and at the end of the study.RESULTS: Of 317 patients with gout, 76 patients (24%) were continuously taking prednisolone at a dose of 5-10 mg/day for ≥180 days, 241 patients (76%) did not receive GCs during  the entire follow-up period. The average dose of prednisolone in patients of the main group was 7.9±1.2 mg/day, the duration of treatment was 206.3±20.4 days.DM2 developed  during  the observation period in 20% of the main group and in 22% of the comparison group (p=0.73). Patients who took GC were older than those who did not take GC (p=0.01), they were more likely to have CHF (p=0.04). There were no significant differences between the groups for the rest of the compared parameters. In patients treated with low doses of GC — a significant increase in the average level of HbA1c  (p=0.002); an increase in the number of patients with glucose levels ≥6.1 mmol/l (p=0.004) by the end of the study relative to the baseline. The initial level of HbA1c  in patients who developed DM2 was expectedly higher, among them smokers were more often detected (p=0.01), they had a higher level of serum UA (p=0.001). The prevalence of other risk factors for DM in those who developed and did not develop DM2 did not differ significantly.CONCLUSION: Long-term use of low doses of GC in patients with gout does not significantly increase the risk of developing DM2, but may have a negative effect on carbohydrate metabolism.