Risk of malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer in rheumatoid arthritis patients initiating methotrexate versus hydroxychloroquine: a cohort study
Main finding · Any skin cancerResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 1.03 95% CI 0.92–1.14Authors' conclusion
In this large cohort of older RA patients initiating methotrexate or hydroxychloroquine as their first DMARD, we found no difference in the risk of skin cancer including malignant melanoma and NMSC. However, for specific components of NMSC, methotrexate initiators had higher risk of BCC but lower risk of SCC compared with hydroxychloroquine initiators.
Study context
- Population
- Older adults (≥65 years) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating MTX or HCQ as their first DMARD24,577 propensity score (PS)-matched pairs
- Participants
- 24,577 vs 24,577
- Exposure
- MTX vs HCQ as first DMARD
- Methotrexaten = 24,577
- Hydroxychloroquinen = 24,577reference
- Outcome
- New occurrence of any skin cancer (malignant melanoma or NMSC), validated algorithms (PPV >83%)
Methodological details1:1 propensity-score matched
- 1:1 propensity-score matched
Main finding
Any skin cancer · mean follow-up 388 days
Hazard ratio
1.03
95% CI 0.92–1.14
By group
Methotrexatevs Hydroxychloroquine
HR 1.03 (95% CI 0.92–1.14)
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Malignant melanoma | 1.39 (0.87–2.21) | |
| NMSC | 1.01 (0.90–1.12) | |
| Basal cell carcinoma | 1.37 (1.13–1.66) | |
| Squamous cell carcinoma | 0.79 (0.63–0.99) | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Risk of malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer in rheumatoid arthritis patients initiating methotrexate versus hydroxychloroquine: a cohort study. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 8 January 2022. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →