Table 2.

Changes in the incidence of joint replacements for rheumatoid arthritis and use of anti-rheumatics in four-year periods from 1995 through 2010

	A	B		C		D		E	F
Incidence per 100,000 inhabitants
Hip replacements	6.97	5.97	–14%	4.92	–29%	3.68	–47%	0.53 (0.44–0.63)	< 0.001
Knee replacements	8.12	7.73	–5%	7.77	–4%	6.31	–22%	0.78 (0.67–0.90)	< 0.001
Shoulder replacements	2.01	1.75	–13%	1.26	–37%	1.16	–43%	0.57 (0.42–0.79)	< 0.001
Elbow replacements	1.96	1.57	–20%	0.91	–53%	0.82	–58%	0.42 (0.29–0.60)	< 0.001
All	19	17	–11%	15	–22%	12	–37%	0.63 (0.57–0.69)	< 0.001
Users of anti-rheumatic drugs per 100,000 inhabitants
Methotrexate	180	306	+70%	394	+119%	467	+160%	2.60 (2.54–2.66)	< 0.001
Sulfasalazine	246	305	+24%	337	+37%	363	+48%	1.48 (1.45–1.51)	< 0.001
Hydroxychloroquine	140	220	+58%	280	+101%	321	+130%	2.30 (2.24–2.36)	< 0.001
Gold	170	139	–18%	96	–43%	62	–63%	0.37 (0.35–0.38)	< 0.001
Leflunomide	0	27	–	64	–	81	–	–	< 0.001
Biologics	0	0	0	34	–	79	–	–	< 0.001
Others a	105	101	–3%	79	–27%	72	–32%	0.68 (065–0.71)	< 0.001

^a Including azathioprine, penicillamine, chloroquine, and alkylating agents.

A Mean annual incidence 1995–1998

B Mean annual incidence 1999–2002 and percentage change compared to 1995–1998

C Mean annual incidence 2003–2006 and percentage change compared to 1995–1998

D Mean annual incidence 2007–2010 and percentage change compared to 1995–1998

E Incidence rate ratio (95% CI). Period 2007–2010 compared to 1995–1998

F p-value for trend over the 4 periods