Table 3

Numbers and rates of incident tuberculosis, limited to first anti-TNF drug. (Follow-up censored at date of starting second anti-TNF drug)

Number of patients ever received the drugDMARD (n=3232)All anti-TNF (n=10 712)ETA (n=3913)INF (n=3295)ADA (n=3504)
On drug*
Person-years734523 28610 11174595716
Cases of TB244119
Rate/100 000 person-years (95% CI)103 (66 to 153)40 (11 to 101)147 (74 to 264)157 (72 to 299)
IRR, adjusted for age, gender and entry year (95% CI)Referent3.7 (1.1 to 12.7)4.4 (1.3 to 15.2)
Most recent drug*
Person-years734527 62411 92689636735
Cases of TB3361215
Rate/100 000 personyears (95% CI)119 (82 to 168)50 (18 to 110)134 (69 to 234)223 (125 to 367)
IRR, adjusted for age, gender and entry year (95% CI)Referent2.7 (0.9 to 7.8)4.4 (1.6 to 12.1)
  • * The two models of risk attribution are illustrated in fig 1.

  • ADA, adalimumab; DMARDs, disease modifying antirheumatic drugs; ETA, etanercept; INF, infliximab; IRR, incidence rate ratio; TB, tuberculosis; TNF, tumour necrosis factor.