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

ABSTRACT:

Objective

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.

Methods

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 As

SUBMITTER: Mjaavatten MD 

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

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature