Drug consumption in the first years of rheumatoid arthritis in France, the Netherlands, and Norway: A longitudinal study in the early nineties

A Ludig, F Guillemin*, Isabelle Chary-Valckenaere, Theo P B M Suurmeijer, T Moum, Wim J A van den Heuvel

*Corresponding author for this work

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    Abstract

    Objective: To analyse drug consumption in the first years of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in France, the Netherlands, and Norway, in a longitudinal study between 1991 and 1993.

    Patients and Methods: The EURIDISS cohort followed up over three years included 695 RA subjects with less than 5 years disease duration. Clinical and biological parameters, drug consumption according to ATC classification, and use of local treatment were recorded.

    Results: In the Netherlands consumption of second-line treatment occurred early on, and remained constant over time. Tn France, it was consumed by half of the subjects and decreased during follow-up (p <0.001). In Norway, 50% of the subjects were on second-line treatment at the outset. NSAIDs rather than corticoids were the most widely consumed. Patients underwent frequently local treatments with decrease frequency of infiltrations over time (p

    Conclusion: Second-line treatments were used in the first years of disease development, following varying sequences in the different countries.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)352-357
    Number of pages6
    JournalScandinavian Journal of Rheumatology
    Volume29
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2000

    Keywords

    • rheumatoid arthritis
    • treatment
    • consumption
    • drugs
    • METHOTREXATE
    • DISABILITY
    • DISEASES
    • REGISTER
    • THERAPY

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