Were the patterns of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis during 1977-1992 consistent with modern clinical guidelines?

Quality assessment of the long-term treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Treatment patterns in a cohort of 70 local and 77 distant RA patients during 1977-1992 were reviewed retrospectively and compared to modern clinical guidelines.

In 1977 disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were given to 62% of the new, hospitalised patients, systemic corticosteroids to 7%, and corticosteroid joint injections to 24%. Patients with short disease duration and/or serious disease were selected for DMARD-treatment. Rheumasurgery was performed on 21%. During follow-up of local patients 54% were recorded with DMARDs for a mean duration of 29 months; approximately 1/5 of the follow-up period. Methotrexate was used infrequently. Local and systemic corticosteroids were recorded in approximately 20%. Rheumasurgery, predominantly non-prosthetic, was performed on 27%.

Patients with early and serious disease were selected for DMARD-therapy, but the treatment duration was too short for modern requirements. Pharmaceutical and surgical treatment patterns were otherwise mainly consistent with present guidelines.