Is glucocorticoid bridging therapy associated with later use of glucocorticoids and biological DMARDs during the disease course of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in daily practice? A real-world data analysis
Authors' conclusion
In this daily practice cohort of newly diagnosed RA patients, patients in the iGC group had a more rapid DAS28 decrease and an increased probability of starting GC later on compared to the niGC group. The probability of bDMARD use was not significantly increased.
Study context
- Population
- Newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, Leiden University Medical Center, daily practice
- Participants
- 932 participants
- Exposure
- Initial glucocorticoid (GC) bridging vs no initial GC
- iGCn = 465
- Outcome
- GC and bDMARD use later in the disease course
Methodological detailsreal-world data, electronic health records, single-centre, multivariable adjustment for confounding by indication
- Real-world data
- Electronic health records
- Single-centre
- Multivariable adjustment for confounding by indication
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Estimate (95 % CI)
iGCvs niGChazard to (re)start GC later on
aHR 1.37(1.09–1.73)
Between iGC and niGChazard to start bDMARD, first time period; not significantly different
HR 0.34(0.09–1.21)
iGCvs niGChazard to start bDMARD, second time period; not significantly different
HR 1.48(0.98–2.22)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
DAS28 decrease in first 6 months
- More rapid decrease in DAS28 in the iGC group vs niGC
Original publication
Is glucocorticoid bridging therapy associated with later use of glucocorticoids and biological DMARDs during the disease course of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in daily practice? A real-world data analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 10 November 2023. doi:10.
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