In previous research we found unacceptably low use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in British Columbia, despite being recommended for all patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatologist care was shown to greatly influence how patients with RA are treated, yet many RA patients are never referred to rheumatologists. This study aims to determine the real health impact of these gaps in care. We are evaluating how variations in RA care and treatment strategies impact outcomes important to people with arthritis, such as physical function, risk of work loss, and premature death. Our results will provide evidence to help policy-makers, clinicians and people with arthritis evaluate and make informed decisions about health care services.
Using administrative data from the BC Ministry of Health, we have been able to evaluate the impact of certain RA treatments on the health of people living with RA. We found that people who receive biologic medications, a relatively new class of disease-modifying drugs, have a significantly lower risk of death than people who don’t. On the other hand, we found that patients treated with glucocorticoids, a type of medication used to combat inflammation, have a significantly higher risk of death. We are currently evaluating other aspects of health care and how they influence health outcomes in RA.
