OBJECTIVES: In recent years, methodologies used in outcomes research have advanced. In a field where many disciplines, such as clinicians, epidemiologists, economists and statisticians interact frequently, a tool to communicate information clearly and effectively through graphical means has become a necessity.To present treatment patterns among patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using data visualization techniques. METHODS: Using 100% national Medicare data with Part D information, we selected patients over the age of 65 with at least one AS diagnosis. We identified patients who initiated therapy with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and non-TNF agents. For 2 years after the initiation, we examined switching to another TNF, a non-TNF, and discontinuation treatment patterns. Using a processing language, we created a data visualization tool to demonstrate changes in treatment patterns after the first and second switches. RESULTS: A total of 1,159 AS patients (1,159) initiated therapy with TNF. 5.69% of these patients switched to another TNF, 2.67% switched to a non-TNF, 55.91% discontinued therapy and 35.72% continued their initial therapy. Among patients who switched to another TNF, 53.03% remained on the switched therapy, 28.79% discontinued therapy, 15.15% switched to another TNF, and 3.03% switched to a non-TNF. A total of 532 AS patients initiated therapy with a non-TNF. 1.50% of these patients switched to a TNF, 0.94% switched to a non-TNF, 93.61% discontinued their therapy and 3.95% continued their initial therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment patterns can be difficult to present, especially when analyzing several years of data and various drug switches. Data visualization tools can help present these complicated flows effectively to researchers.