Table 2.
Univariate and multivariate analyses of variables associated with relapses.
| Variable | Univariate analysis | Multivariate analysis | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P value | OR (95%CI) | P value | OR (95%CI) | |
| Male (%) | 0.19 | 1.68 (0.78–3.82) | 0.07 | 2.41 (0.94–6.90) |
| Disease duration (years) | 0.02 | 1.11 (1.02–1.22) | 0.01 | 1.14 (1.03–1.28) |
| Maximal serum IgG4 concentration (mg/dL) | 0.74 | 1.00 (0.99–1.00) | 0.23 | 1.00 (0.99–1.00) |
| Number of affected organs | 0.73 | 1.03 (0.87–1.22) | 0.34 | 1.11 (0.89–1.39) |
| Reduction rate in the first 3 months | 0.11 | 5.68 (0.70–48.86) | NT | |
| Reduction rate in the first 6 months | 0.22 | 4.75 (0.40–65.29) | NT | |
| Reduction speed of initial dose of GC (mg/day) | 0.01 | 4.53 (1.41–19.4) | 0.02 | 6.19 (1.22–46.93) |
| Initial dose of GC (%) | ||||
| <0.39 mg/kg/day | 0.09 | 2.37 (0.68–6.18) | 0.02 | 3.83 (1.25–11.75) |
| 0.4–0.69 mg/kg/day | ref | ref | ref | ref |
| >0.7 mg/kg/day | <0.01 | 4.04 (1.61–10.35) | 0.04 | 3.52 (1.09–11.51) |
Patients treated with initial GC <0.39 and >0.7 mg/kg/day of PSL were compared with patients treated with 0.4–0.69 mg/kg/day of initial PSL. Only reduction speed of initial dose of GC, but not reduction rate in the first 3 or 6 months, was included in the multivariate analysis.
CI: confidence interval; GC: glucocorticoid; OR: odds ratio; NT: not tested; PSL: prednisolone; ref: reference.