Comparative safety of biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for cardiovascular outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors' conclusion
In this large nationwide study, rituximab and IL-6i users had numerically higher, but not statistically significant, MACE risk. Our data support the safety of b/tsDMARD use for RA treatment.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals aged 18–64 years with RA initiating b/tsDMARD treatment, Merative Marketscan Research Databases (2012–2021); mostly female (77–84%), median age 50 years
- Participants
- 34,375 treatment exposures
- Exposure
- Non-TNFi and Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) vs TNF inhibitor (TNFi) b/tsDMARD
- Outcome
- MACE
- Follow-up
- Within 2 years of b/tsDMARD initiation
Methodological detailsUS administrative claims data, Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for potential confounders
- US administrative claims data
- Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for potential confounders
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
within 2 years
Each group vs TNFiHazard ratio (95% CI)
Rituximab
1.5(0.9–2.4)
IL-6i
1.3(0.7–2.4)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Comparative safety of biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for cardiovascular outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 12 February 2025. doi:10.
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