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A more active treatment has profound effects on the health status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients: results from a population-based RA register in Malmö, Sweden, 1997–2005

Soderlin, M. K. ; Lindroth, Y. ; Turesson, Carl LU and Jacobsson, Lennart LU (2010) In Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology 39(3). p.206-211
Abstract
Methods: A continuously updated population-based RA register was established in the city of Malmo, southern Sweden, in 1997. Self-completed postal questionnaires issued in 1997, 2002, and 2005 were used to collect information on demographics, medication, and health status. Cross-sectional comparisons were made between data from 1997, 2002, and 2005. Results: Between 1997 and 2005, the proportion of patients treated with any disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) including biologics increased substantially (from 52% to 87%), as well as the proportion treated with methotrexate (from 23% to 52%) and biologics (almost exclusively tumour necrosis factor inhibitors) (from 0% to 20%). Twelve per cent of RA patients received biologics 5... (More)
Methods: A continuously updated population-based RA register was established in the city of Malmo, southern Sweden, in 1997. Self-completed postal questionnaires issued in 1997, 2002, and 2005 were used to collect information on demographics, medication, and health status. Cross-sectional comparisons were made between data from 1997, 2002, and 2005. Results: Between 1997 and 2005, the proportion of patients treated with any disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) including biologics increased substantially (from 52% to 87%), as well as the proportion treated with methotrexate (from 23% to 52%) and biologics (almost exclusively tumour necrosis factor inhibitors) (from 0% to 20%). Twelve per cent of RA patients received biologics 5 years from disease onset in 2005. In parallel with changes in treatment, mean Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) scores (1.19 vs. 0.89) and all Short Form 36 (SF-36) subscales improved from 1997 to 2005 (non-overlapping confidence intervals). Conclusion: Between 1997 and 2005, there was a substantial increase in the use of DMARDs, which was accompanied by improved mean HAQ and SF-36 scores in cross-sectional comparisons. These results support the concept that more intensive treatment with DMARDs and biologics can have profound effects on the overall health status in RA patients at the population level. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
volume
39
issue
3
pages
206 - 211
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000277223800004
  • scopus:77951811893
  • pmid:20001765
ISSN
1502-7732
DOI
10.3109/03009740903313621
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Rheumatology Research Unit (013243310), Emergency medicine/Medicine/Surgery (013240200)
id
080ee3a5-cc31-461f-809b-0d59cc09a9df (old id 1619013)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:52:17
date last changed
2022-04-28 02:13:26
@article{080ee3a5-cc31-461f-809b-0d59cc09a9df,
  abstract     = {{Methods: A continuously updated population-based RA register was established in the city of Malmo, southern Sweden, in 1997. Self-completed postal questionnaires issued in 1997, 2002, and 2005 were used to collect information on demographics, medication, and health status. Cross-sectional comparisons were made between data from 1997, 2002, and 2005. Results: Between 1997 and 2005, the proportion of patients treated with any disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) including biologics increased substantially (from 52% to 87%), as well as the proportion treated with methotrexate (from 23% to 52%) and biologics (almost exclusively tumour necrosis factor inhibitors) (from 0% to 20%). Twelve per cent of RA patients received biologics 5 years from disease onset in 2005. In parallel with changes in treatment, mean Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) scores (1.19 vs. 0.89) and all Short Form 36 (SF-36) subscales improved from 1997 to 2005 (non-overlapping confidence intervals). Conclusion: Between 1997 and 2005, there was a substantial increase in the use of DMARDs, which was accompanied by improved mean HAQ and SF-36 scores in cross-sectional comparisons. These results support the concept that more intensive treatment with DMARDs and biologics can have profound effects on the overall health status in RA patients at the population level.}},
  author       = {{Soderlin, M. K. and Lindroth, Y. and Turesson, Carl and Jacobsson, Lennart}},
  issn         = {{1502-7732}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{206--211}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology}},
  title        = {{A more active treatment has profound effects on the health status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients: results from a population-based RA register in Malmö, Sweden, 1997–2005}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/03009740903313621}},
  doi          = {{10.3109/03009740903313621}},
  volume       = {{39}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}