THE USE OF BIOLOGIC DRUGS FOR THE TREATMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN ITALY
Author(s)
Heiman F*1;Katz P1;Pegoraro V1, Di Virgilio R2 1CSD Medical Research S.r.l., Milan, Italy, 2Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Rome, Italy
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to describe the clinical profile of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with biologic agents within the former Italian centers “Antares” where autoimmune diseases are treated. METHODS: This study analyzed data from patient diaries (PDS), which involved 70 rheumatologists that are regular prescribers of biological treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and were recruited by telephone. The patient diaries were completed via web. RESULTS: Study population consisted of 206 (45.9%) patients with RA, 160 (35.6%) with psoriatic arthritis, 61 (13.6%) with ankylosing spondylitis, 14 (3.1%) with Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and 8 (1.8%) with early RA. Female gender prevailed, while the most numerous age group was the one that ranged from 50 to 60 years. The disease was mostly diagnosed before 50 years old and, despite in the group of patients treated with biologic drugs for more than 3 months the percentage of subjects with a value of HAQ less than 1 is higher when compared with those of patients whose treatment has begun more recently, the proportion of patients with a value of HAQ between 2 and 3 is still 40.0%. The same, half of the subjects treated for more than 3 months still have a moderate or high disease activity (DAS28 ≥3.2). CONCLUSIONS: The study sample was in line with the literature concluding that it is representative of the Italian context. The fact that there is a proportion of patients treated with biological therapy for more than three months, as well as an important number of patients who have been treated with more than one biologic drugs, and that have a perception of quality of life rather low and / or a disease activity state rather active, leads to conclude that there is still a type of patient for which new therapeutic options should be evaluated.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2013-11, ISPOR Europe 2013, The Convention Centre Dublin
Value in Health, Vol. 16, No. 7 (November 2013)
Code
PMS17
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Safety & Pharmacoepidemiology
Disease
Musculoskeletal Disorders, Systemic Disorders/Conditions