Reasons of cessation of slow-acting antirheumatic drug treatmen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the incidence and possible reasons of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who stopped taking slow-acting antirheumatic drugs (SAADs).Methods Two hundreds and twenty-four in-or out-patients with RA were prospectively followed up for 4-year,and their demographic and clinical information and reasons of SAADs cessation were recorded.The difference between patients who stuck to SAADs and those who stopped SAADs and the factors that resulting the cessation were analyzed.Results ① Fourty-eight percent of 224 patients with RA ceased taking SAADs during 4-year period.② The main reasons of ceasing SAADs,provided by patients themselves,were side effects of SAADs,ineffectiveness,lack of knowledge about drugs,short of SAADs,concurrent diseases,and intention to pregnancy.③ There was significant difference in low income,poor educational status,number of tender joints,and rheumatoid factor level between the patients who stuck to SAADs and those who did not.Conclusion The high incidence of SAADs cessation in RA patients should rise concern.Both medical and patient factors contribute to the cessation.