Frequency of the use of biological treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis in Lower Silesia.
BACKGROUND
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are chronic connective tissue diseases. Inadequate treatment of RA and AS results in health failure, disability and premature death. In recent years, development of immunology and genetic engineering techniques has started a new generation of drugs in the treatment of RA and AS, called biologic response modifiers or biologics. It is a very effective therapy of serious RA and AS. In many cases, they represent the only way to improve the quality of life, slowing or even arresting the development of these diseases. According to national statistics, the percentage of patients with rheumatic diseases treated with biologic treatment in Poland is less than 1.5%, and it is much lower than in Western European countries (20%).


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the use of biological treatment in Lower Silesia in patients with RA and AS in the years 2006-2015, based on data obtained from the Lower Silesian Branch of the Polish National Health Fund.


CONCLUSIONS
In the last 10 years the frequency of biological treatment of RA or AS in Lower Silesia was estimated as 2.06% of patients (in 2011) to 6.03% of patients (during the first 8 months of 2015). Biological treatment is more often used in Lower Silesia in comparison to national statistics and ranks at a similar level as in other countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
Department of Internal Medicine, 4th Military Hospital in Wroclaw.
Wojciech
W
Tański
Department of Internal Medicine, 4th Military Hospital in Wroclaw; Division of Angiology, Wroclaw Medical University.
Angelika
A
Chachaj
Department of Internal Medicine, 4th Military Hospital in Wroclaw; Division of Angiology, Wroclaw Medical University.
Katarzyna
K
Drożdż
Department of Internal Medicine, 4th Military Hospital in Wroclaw; Division of Angiology, Wroclaw Medical University.
Andrzej
A
Szuba
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D001691:Biological Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D011044:Poland; D012042:Registries; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000628:therapy*
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents