EP03: An Audit of Glucocorticoid Prescription in Patients with Giant Cell Arteritis

An audit was conducted to evaluate adherence to prescribed glucocorticoid regimens in 126 patients with Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA), with a mean age of 74.9 years, over an 18-month period at a single rheumatology department. The study found that 22% of patients deviated from their prescribed steroid regimens in the last 7 days and 40% in the last 6 months. The mean daily glucocorticoid dose was 11.1 mg, with non-adherence often attributed to medical advice, forgetfulness, fear of side effects, or confusion about medication. The presence of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) did not affect adherence. Despite variations in glucocorticoid use, the discrepancy in the amount was small.