We will compare the risks and benefits of different classes of biologic and targeted synthetic drugs by looking at everyone in British Columbia who has been prescribed these medications for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis or psoriasis. To do this, we will use advanced statistical methods to analyze data regularly collected by the BC Ministry of Health, with information identifying persons removed, and we will compare how often people using different classes of medications have infections requiring hospitalization, heart attacks, strokes and clots in the veins.

The list of medications included in the study can be found in the table below. As drugs typically have both official technical names and easier-to-say brand names, we have included both names for each drug.

By providing real-world evidence comparing the different treatments available, this study will help clinicians and people with inflammatory arthritis better weigh risks and benefits and make more informed decisions about their treatment options.