Mortality in rheumatoid arthritis: the impact of disease activity, treatment with glucocorticoids, TNFα inhibitors and rituximab.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To investigate the impact of disease activity, the course of the disease, its treatment over time, comorbidities and traditional risk factors on survival.

Methods

Data of the German biologics register RABBIT were used. Cox regression was applied to investigate the impact of time-varying covariates (disease activity as measured by the DAS28, functional capacity, treatment with glucocorticoids, biologic or synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)) on mortality after adjustment for age, sex, comorbid conditions and smoking.

Results

During 31 378 patient-years of follow-up, 463 of 8908 patients died (standardised mortality ratio: 1.49 (95% CI 1.36 to 1.63)). Patients with persistent, highly active disease (mean DAS28  > 5.1) had a significantly

SUBMITTER: Listing J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4316844 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature