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Treatment patterns in rheumatoid arthritis after discontinuation of methotrexate: data from the Ontario Best Practices Research Initiative (OBRI)
J.E. Pope1, E. Rampakakis2, M. Movahedi3, A. Cesta4, X. Li5, S. Couto6, J.S. Sampalis7, C. Bombardier8
- University of Western Ontario, London; Saint Joseph’s Health Care, London, ON, Canada. janet.pope@sjhc.london.on.ca
- JSS Medical Research, St-Laurent, QC, Canada.
- JSS Medical Research, St-Laurent, QC; Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- JSS Medical Research, St-Laurent, QC; McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto; Department of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto; Division of Rheumatology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
and the Ontario Best Practices Research Initiative investigators
CER10349
2018 Vol.36, N°2
PI 0215, PF 0222
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PMID: 29148403 [PubMed]
Received: 20/02/2017
Accepted : 23/06/2017
In Press: 23/10/2017
Published: 18/04/2018
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
In active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX), guidelines support adding or switching to another conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (csDMARD) and/or a biologic DMARD (bDMARD). The purpose of this analysis was to describe treatment practices in routine care and to evaluate determinants of regimen selection after MTX discontinuation.
METHODS:
Biologic-naïve patients in the Ontario Best Practice Research Initiatives registry discontinuing MTX due to primary/secondary failure, adverse events, or patient/physician decision were included.
RESULTS:
Of 313 patients discontinuing MTX, 102 (32.6%) were on MTX monotherapy, 156 (49.8%) on double, and 55 (17.6%) on multiple csDMARDs. Patients on MTX monotherapy were older than patients on double or multiple csDMARDs (p=0.013), less likely to have joint erosions (p=0.009) and had lower patient global assessment (p=0.046) at MTX discontinuation. Post-MTX discontinuation, 169 (54.0%) transitioned to, or added new DMARD(s) (new csDMARD(s): 139 [44.4%]; bDMARD: 30 [9.6%]), and 144 (46.0%) opted for no new DMARD treatment. Patients on MTX monotherapy transitioning monotherapy, whereas patients on combination csDMARDs switched more to new csDMARDs and bDMARD combination therapy. Early RA (adjOR [95%CI]: 3.07 [1.40–6.72]) and treatment with multiple csDMARDs vs. MTX monotherapy (4.15 [1.35–12.8]) at MTX discontinuation were significant predictors of transitioning to or adding new csDMARD(s)/bDMARD treatment versus opting for no new DMARD treatment.
CONCLUSIONS:
Differences in subsequent treatment patterns exist between patients discontinuing MTX when used as monotherapy versus in combination with other csDMARDs where the former are more likely to use a subsequent monotherapy treatment.