European Journal of Rheumatology
Original Article

The First Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Starting Biological Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs: Outcomes from the TReasure Real-Life Database

1.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Koç University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey

2.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

3.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Uludağ University School of Medicine, Bursa, Turkey

4.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University School of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey

5.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Namık Kemal University School of Medicine, Tekirdağ, Turkey

6.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Health Sciences University, Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey

7.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Katip Çelebi University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey

8.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

9.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Trakya University School of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey

10.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Health Sciences University, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Adana, Turkey

11.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sakarya University School of Medicine, Sakarya, Turkey

12.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Health Sciences University, Gülhane Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

13.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Osmangazi University School of Medicine, Eskişehir, Turkey

14.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Fırat University School of Medicine, Elazığ, Turkey

15.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Pamukkale University School of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey

16.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Eur J Rheumatol 2022; 9: 206-211
DOI: 10.5152/eurjrheum.2022.21153
Read: 1411 Downloads: 548 Published: 16 January 2023

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has been resulting in increased hospital occupancy rates. Rheumatic patients cannot still reach to hospitals, or they hesitate about going to a hospital even they are able to reach. We aimed to show the effect of the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the treatment of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthritis.

Methods: Patients were divided into three groups as follows: pre-pandemic (Pre-p: starting on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy for the first time within 6 months before March 11, 2020); post-pandemic A (Post-p A: starting on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy for the first time within the first 6 months after March 11, 2020); post-pandemic B (Post-p B: starting on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy for the first time within the second 6 months).

Results: The number of rheumatoid arthritis patients in the Post-p A and B groups decreased by 51% and 48%, respectively, as compared to the Pre-p group similar rates of reduction were also determined in the number of spondyloarthritis patients. The rates of tofacitinib and abatacept use increased in rheumatoid arthritis patients in Post-p period.

Conclusion: The number of rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis patients starting on biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for the first time decreased during the first year of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Cite this article as: Alpay Kanıtez N, Kiraz S, Dalkılıç E, et al. The first effect of COVID-19 pandemic on starting biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs: Outcomes from the TReasure real-life database. Eur J Rheumatol 2022;9(4):206-211.

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