Multiple DMARD discontinuations in rheumatoid arthritis: how often and in what patients? Results from a national clinical RA register.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Multiple discontinuations of biologic (b-) or targeted synthetic (ts-) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may indicate difficult-to-treat disease. We aimed to assess the occurrence of b/tsDMARD discontinuations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), specifically how this varies by definition, across patient subsets and over time.

Methods

Observational cohort study using data from the Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register on patients diagnosed with RA between 2010 and 2019. We identified three populations: (1) newly diagnosed (N=17 780), (2) initiating a first-ever DMARD (N=18 038) and (3) initiating a first-ever b/tsDMARD (N=8075). In each, we assessed the proportions and characteristics of patients fulfilling either of seven alternative DMARD dis

SUBMITTER: Wettersand E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12530398 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature