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


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. In 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<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Second-line treatments were used in the first years of disease development, following varying sequences in the different countries.
Ludig
A
A
Rheumatology Unit, CHU Brabois, Nancy, France.
Guillemin
F
F
Chary-Valckenaere
I
I
Suurmeijer
T P
TP
Moum
T
T
van den Heuvel
W J
WJ
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009426:Netherlands; D009664:Norway
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents