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Ann Rheum Dis 2009;68:844-849 doi:10.1136/ard.2008.094359
  • Clinical and epidemiological research

Evaluating guidelines on continuation of anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment after 3 months: clinical effectiveness and costs of observed care and different alternative strategies

  1. W Kievit1,2,
  2. J Fransen1,
  3. E M Adang2,
  4. H H Kuper3,
  5. T L Jansen4,
  6. C M A De Gendt5,
  7. D J R A M De Rooij6,
  8. H L M Brus7,
  9. M A F J van de Laar3,
  10. P C L M Van Riel1
  1. 1
    Department of Rheumatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  2. 2
    Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Health Technology Assessment, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  3. 3
    Department of Rheumatology, Medisch Spectrum Twente and University Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
  4. 4
    Department of Rheumatology, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
  5. 5
    Department of Rheumatology, Alysis Care Group, Arnhem, The Netherlands
  6. 6
    Department of Rheumatology, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  7. 7
    Department of Rheumatology, Twee Steden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands
  1. Dr W Kievit, Department of Rheumatology (470), Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; w.kievit{at}reuma.umcn.nl
  • Accepted 10 June 2008
  • Published Online First 14 July 2008

Abstract

Objective: To study the adherence of rheumatologists to the Dutch guidelines for anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) treatment. The secondary objective was to evaluate alternatives to the present guidelines with regard to the percentage of responders and costs.

Methods: The response (>1.2 DAS28 decrease) in patients who started on anti-TNF-α treatment for the first time was evaluated at 3 and 6 months after initiation. How many patients continued or discontinued their initial anti-TNF-α treatment was evaluated. Possible alternative guidelines were evaluated by means of a decision tree, with regard to the expected percentage of successfully (responders) and unsuccessfully treated patients and expected costs.

Results: At 3 months 56% (N  =  306) and 44% (N  =  233) of all 539 evaluable patients were classified as responders or non-responders, respectively. Despite the guidelines, most (81%) (N  =  189) of the non-responders continued treatment. 37% of the non-responders who continued anti-TNF-α treatment were eventually classified as responders at 6 months. Decision analytical modelling showed that with equal expected costs all alternative strategies would result in more responders than according to theoretical full adherence with the guidelines. “Continuation in case of partial response” had the best trade-off between successfully treated patients (64%) and unsuccessfully treated patients (17%).

Conclusion: There was suboptimal adherence to the Dutch guidelines for treatment with anti-TNF-α for rheumatoid arthritis patients. This seemed to be justified by the fact that a delayed response up to 6 months was shown. If treatment is continued despite a non-response at 3 months, this is only recommended in patients with at least a partial response (at least 0.6 DAS28 improvement).

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Funding: Funding from the Dutch National Health Insurance Board and the Dutch affiliations of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Abbott Pharmaceuticals and Roche Pharmaceuticals enabled the data collection for the DREAM cohort.

  • Ethics approval: Ethics approval was obtained.

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