To treat or not to treat? Current attitudes on treatment aimed at modifying the disease burden in clinically suspect arthralgia: a survey among participants of the TREAT EARLIER trial and healthcare professionals
Authors' conclusion
A considerable willingness exists among CSA patients and rheumatologists to start a 1-year treatment resulting in long-term improvement of symptoms and functioning, while not preventing RA.
Study context
- Population
- Clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA) patients from the TREAT EARLIER trial and Dutch healthcare professionals in rheumatology
- Exposure
- CSA vs Healthcare professionals
- Outcome
- Attitudes on 1-year DMARD treatment in the arthralgia phase to reduce disease burden, while not preventing RA
Methodological detailsanonymous questionnaire survey
- Anonymous questionnaire survey
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Attitudes on 1-year treatment in the CSA phase
- Trial participants considering effects of 1-year treatment beneficial in symptomatic at-risk stage
- 85%
- Trial participants who would recommend a 1-year MTX course to others with comparable joint complaints
- 79%
- Trial participants indicating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) prevention and improving disease burden equally important treatment goals
- Two-thirds
- Healthcare professionals inclined to prescribe 1-year treatment to CSA patients for long-term improvement of symptoms and functioning, while not preventing RA
- 88%
- Healthcare professionals believing profits of 1-year MTX course outweigh disadvantages (e.g. side effects)
- 59%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
To treat or not to treat? Current attitudes on treatment aimed at modifying the disease burden in clinically suspect arthralgia: a survey among participants of the TREAT EARLIER trial and healthcare professionals. RMD Open. Published 2 August 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →