title: A nationwide cross-sectional overview of patients with rheumatoid arthritis followed in outpatient specialty clinics in Finland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to conduct a cross-sectional overview of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in outpatient specialized clinics in Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients were enrolled in the study. The data collected comprised demographic, disease- and treatment-related variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between November 2011 and May 2012, 890 patients with RA (77% female) were enrolled from 14 sites. The median age was 59.8 years and the time from diagnosis 7.2 years. Values for the Disease Activity Score using 28 joint counts (DAS28) ranged from 0.28 to 6.61 (median 2.55) with 52% and 70% of patients reaching remission and low disease activity, respectively. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies were evident in 70% and 63% of patients, respectively. Median Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) scores with and without aids and devices were 0.75 [interquartile range (IQR) 0.13-1.38] and 0.63 (IQR 0.13-1.13), respectively. Conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were used by 91% of patients. A triple therapy of methotrexate (MTX), hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), and sulfasalazine (SSZ) was used by 15%, other MTX-based combination by 30%, MTX alone by 20%, and other DMARDs alone or in combination by 26% of patients. In addition, glucocorticoids and biologics were taken by 58% and 21% of patients, respectively. Of the 184 biologics users, 18% were not using DMARDs concomitantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our cross-sectional review of patients with RA revealed that > 50% of patients were in remission according to DAS28. Comparison with previous studies revealed a reduction in disease activity of prevalent RA cases, possibly resulting from increased use of aggressive anti-rheumatic treatments.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Aaltonen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sokka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Möttönen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korpela
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Komulainen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uusitalo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salomaa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uutela
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Valleala
authors.lastname: Rami Study Group
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents