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. 2013 Nov 27;74(2):354–360. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204128

Table 2.

Discontinuations, person-years and incidence rates over up to 5 years of follow-up in Swedish patients with rheumatoid arthritis starting their first TNFi between 2003 and 2011

Etanercept (n=3892) Adalimumab (n=2349) Infliximab (n=2898) Total (n=9139)
Observation years 9259 5131 5808 20 198
Discontinuations, n (%) 1391 (100%) 963 (100%) 1470 (100%) 3782 (100%)
Lack/loss of efficacy* 710 (51%) 476 (49%) 738 (52%) 1924 (51%)
Adverse event 474 (34%) 349 (36%) 525 (37%) 1348 (36%)
Other 207 (15%) 138 (14%) 165 (12%) 510 (13%)
Discontinuation causes not counted as events, n (%)
 Pregnancy 59 (1.5%) 15 (0.6%) 12 (0.4%) 86 (0.9%)
 Remission† 44 (1.1%) 53 (2.3%) 50 (1.7%) 147 (1.6%)
 Death 31 (0.8%) 30 (1.3%) 35 (1.2%) 96 (1.1%)
Incidence per 100 person-years 15 19 25 19
1 year drug survival
 Observation years, sum 2355 1349 1667 5371
 Discontinuations, n 671 517 668 1856
 % 26% 34% 36% 31%

*As decided by treating physician or patient (standardised failure definition NOT used).

†Note: These numbers represent patients who have discontinued TNFi therapy due to remission. Patients in remission continuing therapy do not contribute to these numbers.

TNF, tumour necrosis factor; TNFi, TNF inhibitor.