OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical characteristics of patients with RA receiving their first biologic in 5EU. METHODS: A multi-country multi-center medical chart-review study of RA patients was conducted among physicians (rheumatologists:97%) in hospitals and private practices to collect de-identified data on patients who were recently treated with a biologic as part of usual care. Physicians were screened for duration of practice (3-30 yrs) and patient volume (incl. >2RA biologic patients/week) and recruited from a large panel to be geographically representative in each country. Eligible patient charts (>5) were randomly selected from a sample of prospective patients visiting each center/practice during the screening period. Physicians abstracted patient diagnosis, treatment patterns/dynamics and patient symptomatology/disease status. RESULTS: In 1Q2012, 2208 eligible RA patient charts were abstracted; 1562 (71%) patients were on their first biologic (mean-age:50.7yrs, female:71%). Geographic distribution of patients were - UK:19%, Germany:18%, France:22%, Italy:23%, Spain:18%. Time-to-1stbiologic from diagnosis (range:31mo (Italy)-52mo (France)) and time-on-current biologic (range:17month (Italy)-27month (France)) differed within 5EU. The top-3 reasons for biologic treatment initiation were consistent across 5EU (‘mechanism of action’, ‘improve signs/symptoms’, ‘prevent structural damage’), whereas the next 2 reasons differed (UK/Germany: ‘disease worsened’ & ‘positive personal experience’; France: ‘inhibits disease’ & ‘mode of administration’; Italy: ‘frequency of administration’ & ‘positive personal experience’; Spain: ‘positive personal experience’ & ‘inhibits disease progression’). Key lab measures documented were: ESR (range:20.8mm/h (France)-29.1mm/h (Italy)) and CRP (range:6.9mg/dl (Spain)-15.0mg/dl (UK)). Current disease severity per physician-judgment (mild:moderate:severe) in 5EU were: UK-58%:29%:13%, Germany-50%:44%:7%, France-39%:48%:12%, Italy-47%:49%:4%, Spain-59%:36%:5%. Among patients with available data, current HAQ (range: 0.7(Spain)-1.5(Germany)), DAS28 (range:3.0(Spain)-3.8(Germany)), 100mmVAS (range:23.3(France)-34.8(Italy)) and Total Sharp (range:0.9(France)-(3.6(Germany)) differed within 5EU. CONCLUSIONS: Among RA patients receiving their first biologic, disease severity differed within 5EU, with patients in Germany with relatively higher burden. Impact of specific biologic treatments on the observed patterns warrants further scrutiny.