Changing patterns of medication use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a Medicaid population.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine changes in patterns of medication utilization in patients with RA.

Methods

Data from Tennessee Medicaid (TennCare) databases (1995-2004) were used to identify adults with both a diagnosis of RA and at least one DMARD prescription each year. Annual age-specific utilization of DMARDs, glucocorticoids, NSAIDs and narcotics was measured on the last day of each year to determine the point prevalence of use of these agents.

Results

Records from 23 342 patients with treated RA were analysed. Most patients were females (78%) and white (74%). The median age was 57 yrs (interquartile range: 48-65). The proportion of patients who had a current DMARD prescription on the index date increased from 62% in 1995 to 71% in 2004 (P < 0.001). MTX was the most commonl

SUBMITTER: Grijalva CG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4819998 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature