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Do rheumatologists know best? An outcomes study of inconsistent users of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

ABSTRACT: Current recommendations advocate treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in all patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We analyzed short-term disease outcome in patients according to the consistency of DMARD use in a clinical rheumatology cohort.Patients in an RA registry (n = 617) were studied for DMARD use at semi-annual study time points during the first 18 months of follow-up and were divided into 4 groups according to the number of study time points with any DMARD use [0-1 study time points (n = 31), 2 study time points (n = 24), 3 study time points (n = 77), and 4 study time points (n = 485)]. The primary outcome analyses were performed at 24 months and included Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28-CRP), modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (MHAQ) change, Short Form Health Survey-12 physical and mental summary scores (SF-12 PCS, SF-12 MCS), EuroQol 5-Dimensional health index (EQ-5D), and radiographic progression. Unadjusted, adjusted, and analyses stratified for seropositivity and disease activity were performed. A secondary analysis investigated 36-month outcomes.No significant 24-month outcome differences could be found between the DMARD use categories. For seropositive patients, there was evidence of a linear trend for SF-12 PCS (p = 0.02) and EQ-5D (p = 0.01) with worse outcomes for inconsistent DMARD users. At 36 months, there was a linear trend for higher DAS28-CRP scores for inconsistent users (p < 0.01).Overall, we found poor correlation between inconsistent DMARD use and short-term disease outcome. However, outcome in the longer term could be negatively influenced by inconsistent DMARD use, as well as short-term outcome in seropositive patients.

SUBMITTER: Mjaavatten MD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4843117 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Do rheumatologists know best? An outcomes study of inconsistent users of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

Mjaavatten Maria D MD Radner Helga H Yoshida Kazuki K Shadick Nancy A NA Frits Michelle L ML Iannaccone Christine K CK Kvien Tore K TK Weinblatt Michael E ME Solomon Daniel H DH

Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism 20140827 4

<h4>Objective</h4>Current recommendations advocate treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in all patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We analyzed short-term disease outcome in patients according to the consistency of DMARD use in a clinical rheumatology cohort.<h4>Methods</h4>Patients in an RA registry (n = 617) were studied for DMARD use at semi-annual study time points during the first 18 months of follow-up and were divided into 4 groups according to the num ...[more]

PMID: 25257807

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Project description:BackgroundKnowledge of factors that contribute to non-persistence with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (NP) is essential to improve rheumatoid arthritis (RA) outcomes. Aims of the study were to investigate patient's motivations and risk factors for NP in a cohort of early RA patients.MethodsUp to September 2012, data from 149 patients, who had at least 1 year of follow-up, at least one drug indication, and at least 2 consecutive six-months-apart rheumatic evaluations that included assessment of compliance were reviewed. NP and patient's motivations of NP were evaluated according to a questionnaire. NP was defined when patients referred that they had completely stop RA medication, "Sometimes", "Almost always" or "Always". Patients had to pay for their medication.Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used. Statistical significance was set at a p value of less than 0.05. The study was approved by the internal review board.ResultsUp to cut-off, 715 questionnaires were applied to 149 patients, who had follow-up of 58.7?±?27.9 months and were indicated 2.4?±?0.7 DMARDs/patient/follow-up.Patients were most frequently female (88.6%), middle-aged ([mean?±?SD] age of 38.5?±?12.8 years) with lower-middle/lower socio-economic status (87.9%) and scholarship of 11?±?3.9 years.Ninety-nine (66.4%) patients were NP and filled 330 questionnaires. Multivariate analysis showed that years of formal education (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.1-1.24, p?=?0.03), perception of at least some difficulty to find arthritis medication (OR: 5.68, 95% CI: 2.48-13, p?=?0.000) and perception that arthritis medication is expensive (OR: 5.27, 95% CI: 2.1-13.84, p?=?0.001) at the first evaluation of patient's compliance were all predictors of NP.Among the 99 NP patients, 25 (25.3%) were recurrent-NP and accumulated more disease activity. The combination of both reasons of NP ("Because it was not available at the drugstore" and "Because the medication is very expensive") when selected at the first evaluation of compliance was the only variable to predict recurrent NP, OR: 4.8, 95% CI: 1.1-20.8, p?=?0.04.ConclusionsHealth systems should provide (first line) treatment for RA as a strategy to improve compliance with therapy and clinical outcomes, particularly in vulnerable populations.

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Do rheumatologists know best? An outcomes study of inconsistent users of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

Publications

Do rheumatologists know best? An outcomes study of inconsistent users of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

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