Table 3 The use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the QUEST-RA countries; the highest percentage for each drug is indicated in bold, and the lowest in bold italics
CountryDelay to start DMARDs, months, medianDMARD exposure years, meanSelected DMARDs ever taken; percentage of patients in the QUEST-RA study per country
PredMTXHCQSSZLEFAny biological agent
Denmark107.943%85%39%64%11%23%
Finland714.474%85%74%84%21%17%
France89.983%86%55%49%42%53%
Germany158.454%78%30%36%25%29%
Ireland116.371%92%15%33%24%41%
Italy97.169%79%42%14%31%26%
The Netherlands58.126%91%28%35%6%19%
Poland47.269%87%34%60%18%8%
Spain147.367%82%43%29%34%27%
Sweden128.866%83%34%62%9%31%
UK127.951%67%39%46%4%16%
Turkey128.969%88%27%61%22%7%
Serbia116.688%69%55%17%7%2%
USA97.977%85%49%12%19%33%
Argentina133.783%68%49%6%16%3%
Total98.166%83%41%43%21%23%
  • HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; LEF, leflunomide; MTX, methotrexate; Pred, prednisone; QUEST-RA, Quantitative Patient Questionnaires in Standard Monitoring of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis; SSZ, sulfasalazine.

  • A file including the standard deviation of DMARD exposure and the interquartile range of the delay to starting DMARDs is provided in the supplementary material.