Further examination of the data revealed that the majority of non-users (81?% in 2002C2006 and 74?% in 2007C2011) used corticosteroid and/or NSAID in the follow-up

Further examination of the data revealed that the majority of non-users (81?% in 2002C2006 and 74?% in 2007C2011) used corticosteroid and/or NSAID in the follow-up. post, but used at least one of these medications in the study period. Results During 2002C2006, 557 anti-TNF users were matched to 1144 DMARD users and to 656 nonusers, compared to 690, 1651, and 532 patients, respectively during 2007C2011. The crude rates of MSD-related hospitalizations in the anti-TNF, DMARD and non-users groups were respectively: 8.2/100, 6.4/100 and 10.5/100 patient-years in 2002C2006, and 6.9/100, 4.8/100, and 8.6/100 patient-years in 2007C2011. In multivariable Cox regression models, the hazard ratios of MSD-related hospitalizations (95?% confidence interval) were: 0.95 (0.60; 1.50) for anti-TNF and 0.69 (0.46; 1.02) for DMARD users, versus non-users in 2002C06, and 0.65 (0.37; 1.14) and 0.40 (0.24; 0.66), respectively in 2007C2011. Conclusion The MSD-related hospitalization risk was lower in RA patients using DMARD therapy and comparable in those using anti-TNF therapy with or without DMARDs as compared to those not using either of these therapies during the study period. (%))426 (76.5)921 (80.5)562 (85.7)517 (74.9)1281 (77.6)426 (80.1)Residence (urban (%))428 (76.8)899 (78.6)526 (80.2)531 (77.0)1316 (79.7)425 (79.9)Higher incomea 344 (61.8)691 (60.4)379 (57.8)417 (60.4)980 (59.4)339 (63.7)Socioeconomic status (%)Social quintile 058 (10.4)90 (7.9)48 (7.3)49 (7.1)100 (6.1)25 (4.7)Social quintile 1106 (19.0)211 (18.4)88 (13.4)113 (16.4)285 (17.3)74 (13.9)Interpersonal quintile 2C3192 (34.5)392 (34.3)238 (36.3)251 (36.5)618 (37.4)218 (41.0)Social KW-2478 quintile 4C5201 (36.1)451 (39.4)282 (43.0)276 (40.0)648 (39.2)215 (40.4)Use of health services in prior 12 months (%)Visit to rheumatologist490 (88.0)946 (82.7)480 (73.2)608 (88.1)1365 (82.7)338 (63.5)Comorbidity in prior 12 months (%)Hematologic disorders75 (13.5)112 (9.8)69 KW-2478 (10.5)72 (10.4)182 (11.0)69 (13.0)Heart failure16 (2.9)29 (2.5)9 (1.4)19 (2.8)38 (2.3)23 (4.3)Cerebrovascular disease21 (3.8)23 (2.0)19 (2.9)10 (1.4)39 (2.4)22 (4.1)Atrial fibrillation14 (2.5)24 (2.1)13 (2.0)23 (3.3)54 (3.3)18 (3.4)Ischemic heart disease79 (14.2)138 (12.1)76 (11.6)65 (9.4)186 (11.3)56 (10.5)Peptic ulcer disease7 (1.3)10 (0.9)5 (0.8)1 (0.1)9 (0.5)3 (0.6)Cancer39 (7.0)102 (8.9)51 (7.8)69 (10.0)172 (10.4)64 (12.0)Medication use in prior 12 KW-2478 months (%)NSAIDs430 (77.2)843 (73.7)452 (68.9)435 (63.0)980 (59.4)248 (46.6)Serotonin reuptake inhibitors57 (10.2)107 (9.4)62 (9.5)71 (10.3)164 (9.9)532 (9.6)Gastroprotective agents322 (57.8)664 (58.0)345 (52.6)463 KW-2478 (67.1)970 (58.8)328 (61.7)Antidiabetics63 (11.3)115 (10.1)51 (7.8)81 (11.7)170 (10.3)77 (14.5)Corticosteroid414 (74.3)757 (66.2)400 (61.0)500 (72.5)928 (56.2)306 (57.5)Anticoagulants27 (4.8)49 (4.3)31 (4.7)32 (4.6)106 (6.4)34 (6.4)Antihypertensives294 (52.8)587 (51.3)305 (46.5)414 (60.0)944 (57.2)335 (63.0) Open in a separate windows aThose who do not receive any guaranteed income supplement Patient baseline characteristics Matching by high-dimensional propensity score, age and sex, removed most differences in baseline patient characteristics between the treatment groups except those related directly to the treatment choice such as prior corticosteroid and NSAID use, prior visits to rheumatologists and socioeconomic status (Table?2). In 2002C2006, patients in the anti-TNF group and those in the DMARD group had higher SES compared to nonusers and were more likely than non-users to have taken corticosteroids and NSAIDs and to have frequented a rheumatologist in the previous 12 months. In 2007C2011, patients in the anti-TNF group were more likely than non-users to live in rural areas, to have received partial or total subsidies, to have used corticosteroid and NSAIDs and to have seen a rheumatologist in the previous 12 months. They were also less likely to have CVD. In 2007C2011, patients in the DMARD group were more likely than non-users to have received partial or total subsidies, to have taken NSAIDs and frequented a rheumatologist in the previous 12 months. They were also less likely STAT3 to have CHF and to have been using antidiabetics. Table 2 Patient characteristics associated with anti-TNF and DMARD use: logistic regression model confidence interval Table 4 Patients characteristics associated with hospitalization for musculoskeletal conditions: Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for treatment group at baseline confidence interval Discussion Our results suggests that in RA patients, the risks of MSD-related hospitalizations were similarly likely for those using anti-TNF therapy compared to non-users. The risk seemed higher in the first 5?years after the introduction of anti-TNF drugs to the market compared to the following 7C11 years. In DMARDs users that matched the anti-TNF users, MSD-related hospitalizations were KW-2478 less likely than in non-users in both periods, although results reached statistical significance in the second period. Analyses of all DMARD users revealed a similar risk among DMARD users compared to nonusers in the period preceding the introduction of the anti-TNF to the market and a decreasing trend showing a lower risk among DMARD users in the following two periods. The apparently lower risk found in DMARD versus anti-TNF users is.