Changing pattern of drug use in relation to disease duration of rheumatoid arthritis.
The prevalent use of antirheumatic drugs in a cohort of 311 middle aged female patients with seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was investigated. Seropositive patients used a greater amount and more aggressive drugs during each decade of disease duration. The overall use of drugs decreased with disease duration, except for a subgroup of seropositive patients with RA who, with increased disease duration, used more aggressive drugs.
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal