OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between the utilization of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and the sociodemographic characteristics of the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient population.

METHODS: In this retrospective analysis of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from 2010 to 2018, the study population includes RA patients diagnosed using the International Classification of Disease. We used descriptive statistics to assess the sociodemographic characteristics of RA patients and bDMARDs users. Logistic regression was conducted to measure the association between bDMARDs utilization and the study population's sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS: A total of 2522 patients were diagnosed with RA in 2010-2018, of which 72% of RA patients were female, 64% white, and 80% non-Hispanic. Most patients were aged 45-70 years (63.3%) with a mean±SD age of 60.36±14. Private and public health insurance covered 42% and 52% of the patient population, respectively, and 6% were uninsured. Most RA patients were married (43%) and not employed (70%). There was a significant difference in RA patients who used bDMARDs in the race, marital status, education, employment status, insurance coverage, and not a significant difference in sex and ethnicity in this study population. The logistic regression analysis results indicated that the odds of bDMARDs utilization were significantly higher in white patients (adjusted OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.11, 3.10). bDMARDs utilization was significantly more likely in patients who had private than those who had public insurance coverage (2.41; 95% CI, 1.39, 4.17). Moreover, the odds of bDMARDs utilization were significantly less likely in RA elderly patients (4% lower for every year increase in age of RA patients).

CONCLUSIONS: bDMARDs play a crucial role in managing and treating rheumatoid arthritis, and it is essential for clinicians, healthcare providers, and policy-makers to understand the association of the sociodemographic characteristics of RA patients and the bDMARDs utilization to improve RA patients' outcomes.