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.

How is This Study Being Conducted?

We used administrative data from the BC Ministry of Health to collect information on treatments received for RA including timing and consistency of DMARD use, and use of different DMARD treatment strategies. We analyzed the relationships between the use of these medications and the risk of certain health outcomes. For the past 10 years we have been following a cohort of people with RA in BC. Each year, these individuals complete questionnaires that help us to determine their RA disease activity, physical function and overall health-related quality of life. The relationship between variations in RA care and health outcomes is being analyzed. Growing emphasis on patient-centered health care delivery requires patients and clinicians to make health care decisions together, allowing patients to make decisions that take into consideration health outcomes that matter to them. Findings from this study will be useful in educating clinicians and empowering patients to make informed decisions and hopefully improve the care and outcomes of RA.