Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism
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Semin. Arthritis Rheum. · Aug 2011
Comparative StudyComparison of anti-TNF treatment initiation in rheumatoid arthritis databases demonstrates wide country variability in patient parameters at initiation of anti-TNF therapy.
Characteristics of Canadian RA patients started on anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment were compared with 12 other countries. ⋯ These results confirm that regional variation exists between the 13 countries analyzed in the initiation of treatment with anti-TNF agents among RA patients and suggest that in some cases this variation may be increasing. In some countries the mean baseline disease severity declined over time and regional reimbursement policies and differences in physician preferences may be influencing initiation of anti-TNF therapy in RA.