Pred and CVD

[Jontie]

This is one for the experts I think. I have found plenty of academic literature on the association between long term pred use and cardiovascular disease, even at doses below 5mg. However I can't find any information about whether the risk of CVD returns to normal when one stops taking pred, or whether "the damage is done" and the increased risk of CVD remains.Does anyone have any information about this please?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

No idea to be honest. Would be interesting to know if it is JUST the steroids or their effects on weight gain, developing diabetes, increasing cholesterol and other factors that all increase CVD risk in their own right.

[Jontie in reply to PMRpro]

I suspect it is just the effect of steroids on the basis that on QRISK 3 this criterion is listed separately from bmi, cholesterol, and having RA. Interestingly if you play around with the QRISK 3 calculator it appears that being on steroids poses a greater risk to CVD than RA.qrisk.org/

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jontie]

You have to die of something - at least with pred you may at least be more comfortable waiting!!

[Jontie in reply to PMRpro]

Very true! 😆

[Merryfield in reply to Jontie]

yikes!