Table 3 Key observational studies reporting long-term glucocorticoid and DMARD prescribing levels in patients with RA
From: Pharmacological pain management in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a narrative literature review
Study | Years considered | Drugs | Region | Size | Key findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atzinger and Guo [118] | 2004 to 2013 | Biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs | USA | 40,473 | • Prescriptions for biologic DMARDs increased more than 20% per patient from 2004 to 2013 |
Brkik et al. [110] | 2010 to 2019 | Biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs | Norway | 4909 to 9335 | • Percentage receiving a biologic or targeted synthetic DMARD rose from 39% in 2010 to 45% in 2019 |
Crossfield et al. [83] | 1998 to 2016 | Glucocorticoids and synthetic DMARDs | UK | 71,411 | • Proportion receiving long-term synthetic DMARDs in the year post-diagnosis rose from 41.6% in 1998, peaking at 67.9% in 2009, then falling to 54.7% in 2016 • Proportion receiving long-term corticosteroids in the year post-diagnosis changed little, being 22.2% in 1998 and 19.1% in 2016 |
Crowson et al. [109] | 1999 to 2018 | Glucocorticoids | USA | 829 | • In patients diagnosed in 1999 to 2008, 67% initiated a glucocorticoid within 6 months, increasing to 71% diagnosed in 2009 to 2018 • Similar levels of glucocorticoid discontinuation rates within 6 months of initiation between these two groups (39.1 vs. 42.9%) |
Hanly et al. [111] | 1997 to 2017 | Glucocorticoids, synthetic and biologic DMARDs | Canada | 8240 | • Proportion prescribed synthetic DMARDs and biologic DMARDs in each year rose from 33.8 to 64.9% and 0 to 20.4% • Proportion prescribed corticosteroids changed little from 34.3 to 32.5% |
Jeong et al. [108] | 2012 to 2022 | Biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs | USA | 34,656 | • Prescribing of JAK inhibitors reduced and of anti-TNF biologics increased in the 18 months post-January 2021 press release regarding the increased risks of major cardiovascular events and cancers with JAK inhibitors |