Table 2.
Details of anti-rheumatic drug therapy at start of anti-TNF agent
| First prescribed biologic | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | P for trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etanercept, n | 74 | 109 | 1442 | 1901 | 410 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| Percentage taken in combination with any DMARD | 26 (35) | 48 (44) | 631 (44) | 1044 (55) | 262 (64) | 2 (66) | 1 (100) | <0.001 | |
| Percentage taken in combination with MTX | 17 (21) | 23 (21) | 395 (27) | 723 (38) | 182 (44) | 0 | 0 | 0 | <0.001 |
| Percentage taken in combination with >1 DMARD | 11 (15) | 11 (10) | 160 (11) | 282 (15) | 87 (21) | 0 | 0 | 0 | <0.001 |
| Infliximab, n | 45 | 1068 | 1067 | 494 | 335 | 250 | 57 | 0 | |
| Percentage taken in combination with any DMARD | 42 (93) | 985 (92) | 994 (93) | 448 (91) | 321 (96) | 231 (92) | 54 (95) | 0 | 0.382 |
| Percentage taken in combination with MTX | 39 (87) | 906 (85) | 903 (85) | 420 (85) | 298 (89) | 202 (81) | 49 (86) | 0 | 0.944 |
| Percentage taken in combination with >1 DMARD | 12 (27) | 189 (18) | 233 (22) | 110 (22) | 106 (32) | 70 (28) | 18 (32) | 0 | <0.001 |
| Adalimumab, n | 0 | 29 | 421 | 743 | 808 | 803 | 724 | 432 | |
| Percentage taken in combination with any DMARD | 0 | 12 (41) | 237 (56) | 503 (68) | 611 (75) | 614 (76) | 573 (79) | 328 (76) | <0.001 |
| Percentage taken in combination with MTX | 0 | 7 (24) | 156 (37) | 376 (51) | 452 (56) | 451 (56) | 428 (59) | 269 (62) | <0.001 |
| Percentage taken in combination with >1 DMARD | 0 | 2 (7) | 56 (13) | 154 (21) | 225 (28) | 233 (29) | 249 (34) | 136 (32) | <0.001 |