Table 3.

Measures for kalaemia and gastric protection associated with the prescription of oral GC therapy over the year following treatment start (figures are percentages)

	All GC initiators n=206 759	Short-term users* n=139 703	Mid-term users* n=63 267	Long-term users* n=3789
At least one concurrent reimbursement of GC and potassium supplements	1.3	0.5	1.8	23.7
Without any serum potassium level measurement during the preceding 2-week period	0.8	0.4	1.3	8.8
At least one concurrent reimbursement of GC and PPI without concurrent NSAID or aspirin use	10.8	7.1	16.7	49.8

*Short-term users: one reimbursement/year; mid-term users: 2–5 reimbursements/year; long-term users: ≥6 reimbursements.

GC, glucocorticoids; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; PPI, proton pump inhibitor.