Use of Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Medicines before and after Initiation of Biological Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Table 3
Changes in analgesic or anti-inflammatory use pre and post biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Prior 12 months (index − 12 to index − 1)
Post 12 months (index + 1 to index + 12)
Type of initiated bDMARD
Medicine
Average month-to-month change (%)
Rate ratio (95% CI)
valuea
Average month-to-month change (%)
Rate ratio (95% CI)
valuea
TNFi
Any analgesic or anti-inflammatory
+1.4%
1.014 (1.009; 1.019)
<0.0001
−1.4%
0.986 (0.981; 0.991)
<0.0001
Glucocorticoids
+3.4%
1.034 (1.024; 1.043)
<0.0001
−3.2%
0.968 (0.959; 0.976)
<0.0001
Opioids
+1.0%
1.010 (1.001; 1.020)
0.034
+0.4%
1.004 (0.998; 1.009)
0.166
NSAIDs
−1.4%
0.986 (0.978; 0.994)
0.001
−1.0%
0.990 (0.985; 0.994)
<0.0001
Non-TNF
Any analgesic or anti-inflammatory
+1.0%
1.010 (1.003; 1.018)
0.009
−2.2%
0.978 (0.967; 0.990)
0.001
Glucocorticoids
+1.7%
1.017 (1.004; 1.031)
0.009
−3.8%
0.962 (0.946; 0.978)
<0.0001
Opioids
+0.4%
1.004 (0.989; 1.020)
0.582
−1.4%
0.986 (0.971; 1.001)
0.063
NSAIDs
+0.7%
1.007 (0.987; 1.026)
0.492
−1.1%
0.989 (0.971; 1.007)
0.227
a value for the ratio of the rate in one month to the rate in the previous month was calculated using a Poisson regression model accounting for over/under dispersion in the data and autoregression. Note. The index month of TNFi or non-TNFi initiation was excluded from the Poisson regression models to allow time for uptake/withdrawal. TNFi ⟶ tumor necrosis factor inhibitor. Non-TNF ⟶ non-tumor necrosis factor. NSAIDs ⟶ nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
