The pattern of anti-IL-6 versus non-anti-IL-6 biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Wales, UK: a real-world study using electronic health records.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Investigating factors associated with drug initiation and discontinuation in patients treated with anti-IL-6 biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) (tocilizumab or sarilumab) vs non-anti-IL-6 (anti-TNF, B or T cell therapies) bDMARDs for RA.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of patients with the diagnosis of RA in the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank, comprising primary and secondary care and specialist rheumatology clinic records for >90% of the population in Wales, UK. Patients initiated on first bDMARD treatment, discontinuation and clinical outcomes including infection and hospitalisation were analysed using Cox regression analysis.

Results

Of patients identified with RA in their primary care records, 95.7% (4691/4922) received conventional sy

SUBMITTER: Cooksey R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11651880 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature