Trends in treatment and outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis in Germany 1997-2007: results from the National Database of the German Collaborative Arthritis Centres.
BACKGROUND
New strategies and options for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have evolved during the past decade. A study was undertaken to investigate to what extent this influenced daily rheumatological care and how this translates into clinical and patient-reported outcomes.


METHODS
Data from a total of 38 723 outpatients with RA enrolled in the National Database of the German Collaborative Arthritis Centres in the years 1997-2007 were analysed. The cross-sectional annual data were compared to detect time trends.


RESULTS
Between 1997 and 2007 the prescription of combinations of traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) increased from 8% of all patients to 23%; biological agents were prescribed to 16% of patients with RA in 2007. The mean disease activity (DAS28) fell from 4.5 to 3.4 (median 4.5-3.2). The percentage of patients with low disease activity (DAS28 <3.2) increased significantly from 23% to 49%. The proportion of patients with ≥6 swollen joints fell from 43.1% in 1997 to 8.1% in 2007 and, in those with ≥6 tender joints, from 46.3% to 15.8%. There was a large decrease in the total annual number of days of sick leave due to the rheumatic condition from 27.2 to 8.8 days per gainfully employed person. This reduction is far beyond the decline in the general population. There was also a tendency to higher participation in the work force, specifically in older patients, reflecting the trend seen in the general population.


CONCLUSIONS
The intensity of drug treatment in patients with RA has increased during the past 7 years. This has been accompanied by not only a decrease in disease activity but also a considerable reduction of economic losses due to sick leave and permanent work disability.
Ziegler
Stefanie
S
German Rheumatism Research Centre, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin, Germany.
Huscher
Dörte
D
Karberg
Kirsten
K
Krause
Andreas
A
Wassenberg
Siegfried
S
Zink
Angela
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors