Table 2.
Diagnosis and initial management of PMR patients in primary care
| Diagnostic parameter | |
|
| |
| Symptom documentation, n (%) | 248 (81.6) |
|
| |
| Specific PMR symptoms:a primary symptom documented, n (%) | |
| Bilateral shoulder pain | 139 (45.7) |
| Hip girdle | 9 (3.0) |
| Myalgias | 32 (10.5) |
| Morning stiffness | 8 (2.6) |
| Other | 60 (19.7) |
| None documented | 56 (18.4) |
| Total | 304 |
| Exclusion of other causes: yes, n (%) | 68 (22.4) |
| Initial steroid dose, mean (SD), mg | 21.5 (8.336) |
|
| |
| Response to corticosteroids, n (%) | |
| Good response | 221 (72.7) |
| Poor/no response | 12 (3.9) |
| Unclear from records | 71 (23.4) |
| Total | 304 |
| Time to initial follow-up, mean (mode), weeks | 1.88 (1.0) |
|
| |
| ESR, mm/hour | |
| Mean (SD) | 51 (27.459) |
| Range | 4 to 12] |
| Normal (<20 mm/hour), n (%) | 36 (11.8) |
ESR = erythrocyte sedimentation rate. SD = standard deviation.
a
Specific PMR symptoms as defined by the BSR/BHPR guidelines.15