Switching of biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a real world setting

Figures & data

Figure 1. Example of switching in (a) first-line cohort and (b) second-line cohort.

Table 1. Pre-index characteristics of switchers and non-switchers.

	First-Line bDMARD Patients			Second-Line bDMARD Patients
Variables	Switchers	Non-Switchers	p Value	Switchers	Non-Switchers	p Value
N	765 (7.8%)	8992 (92.1%)	–	300 (13.8%)	1874 (86.2%)	–
Age (mean)	53	55	<0.001	54	54	0.559
Gender			0.058			0.307
Male	20.8%	23.8%		17.3	19.9
Female	79.2%	76.2%		82.7	80.1
Charlson (mean)	1.4	1.4	0.231	1.4	1.4	0.922
Pre-Index Hospitalization	9.5%	7.2%	0.015	8.7	7.8	0.625
Pre-Index Costs	$1025	$796	<0.001	$2173	$1856	0.002
Pre-Index RA Costs	$183	$185	0.376	$1332	$1182	0.041

Figure 2. Mean monthly total healthcare costs of (a) first-line cohort and (b) second-line cohort. *p < 0.05 compared to non-switchers; **Post-index costs for switchers were post-switch costs.

Figure 3. bDMARD switch rates in (a) first-line cohort (*p < 0.05 compared to abatacept; abatacept n = 582, adalimumab n = 2526, etanercept n = 4268, infliximab n = 2381) and (b) second-line cohort (*p < 0.05 compared to abatacept; abatacept n = 489, adalimumab n = 807, etanercept n = 487, infliximab n = 391).

Figure 4. TNF-TNF switch rates in (a) first-line cohort and (b) second-line cohort. TNF-TNF switch is defined as those patients that switch from one TNF to another, i.e., from etanercept, adalimumab, or infliximab to either etanercept, adalimimab, or infliximab. Abatacept was not included considering 100% of Abatacept switches would be to a bDMARD with a different mechanism of action.