Background
Methods
Statistical analysis
Results
Patient sample
Characteristics | Total patient population | Patients with anti-TNF as second bDMARD | Patients with non-anti-TNF as second bDMARD |
P value (anti-TNF versus non-anti-TNF) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N | 451 | (100.00%) | 340 | (100.00%) | 111 | (100.00%) | |
Age [in years], mean (SD) | 53.75 | (12.77) | 52.96 | (SD: 13.25) | 56.17 | (SD: 10.85) | 0.055 |
Female gender, n (%) | 351 | (77.83%) | 263 | 77.35% | 88 | 79.28% | 0.671 |
Mean CCI | 2.09 | (SD: 1.68) | 2.11 | (SD: 1.70) | 2.03 | (SD: 1.59) | 0.786 |
First anti-TNF agent, n (%) | |||||||
• Adalimumab • Certolizumab • Etanercept • Golimumab • Infliximab | 177 17 182 42 33 | (39.25%) (3.77%) (40.35%) (9.31%) (7.32%) | 136 10 136 30 28 | (40.00%) (2.94%) (40.00%) (8.82%) (8.24%) | 41 7 46 12 5 | (36.94%) (6.31%) (41.44%) (10.81%) (4.50%) | 0.566 0.106 0.788 0.532 0.190 |
Duration of first anti-TNF treatment [in days] | |||||||
• Mean (SD) • Median (range) | 357.71 272.00 | (SD: 265,16) (1061.00) | 348.92 263.50 | (SD: 263,81) (1039.00) | 384.60 315.00 | (SD: 268,67) (1059.00) | 0.167 |
At least one prescription of … within 6 months before index date, n (%) | |||||||
• sDMARDs | 216 | (47.89%) | 160 | (47.06%) | 56 | (50.45%) | 0.535 |
• Painkillers/NSARs | 317 | (70.29%) | 234 | (68.82%) | 83 | (74.77%) | 0.234 |
• Corticosteroids | 326 | (72.28%) | 230 | (67.65%) | 96 | (86.49%) | <0.001 |
At least one prescription of … within 6 months after index date**, n (%) | |||||||
• sDMARDs | 202 | (44.79%) | 157 | (46.18%) | 45 | (40.54%) | 0.300 |
• Painkillers/NSARs | 313 | (69.40%) | 234 | (68.82%) | 79 | (71.17%) | 0.641 |
• Corticosteroids | 318 | (70.51%) | 225 | (66.18%) | 93 | (83.78%) | <0.001 |
Assessment of 2nd bDMARD drug survival
Full patient population [n (%, 95%-CI)] | Patients with anti-TNFs as second bDMARD [n (%, 95%-CI)] | Patients with non-anti-TNFs as second bDMARD [n (%, 95%-CI)] |
Difference in percentage points, p-value (anti-TNF versus non-anti-TNF)
| ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Observed patients
|
451
|
(100.0%)
|
340
|
(100.0%)
|
111
|
(100.0%)
| |
Switchers | 111 | (24.6%, 95%-CI: 20.8–28.8) | 98 | (28.8%, 95%-CI: 24.2–33.9) | 13 | (11.7%, 95%-CI: 6.9–19.2) |
−17.1%,
p < 0.001
|
Discontinuers (90 day gap) | 85 | (18.8%, 95%-CI: 15.5–22.7) | 61 | (17.9%, 95%-CI: 14.2–22.4) | 24 | (21.6%, 95%-CI: 14.9–30.3) |
3.7%,
p = 0.403
|
Among discontinuers (90 day gap): patients who re-started therapy
|
15
|
(17.6%, 95%-CI: 10.8–27.5)
|
13
|
(21.3%, 95%-CI: 12.6–33.6)
|
2
|
(8.3%, 95%-CI: 2.0–29.0)
|
−13.0%,
p = 0.158
|
Continuers (90 day gap) | 256 | (56.8%, 95%-CI: 52.1–61.3) | 182 | (53.5%, 95%-CI: 48.2–58.8) | 74 | (66.7%, 95%-CI: 57.3–74.9) |
13.2%,
p = 0.015
|
Discontinuers (180 day gap) | 67 | (14.9%, 95%-CI: 11.9–18.5) | 45 | (13.2%, 95%-CI: 10.0–17.3) | 22 | (19.8%, 95%-CI: 13.4–28.3) |
6.6%,
p = 0.093
|
Continuers (180 day gap) | 273 | (60.5%, 95%-CI: 55.9–65.0) | 197 | (57.9%, 95%-CI: 52.6–63.1) | 76 | (68.5%, 95%-CI: 59.2–76.5) |
10.6%,
p = 0.045
|