Window of opportunity to achieve major outcomes in early rheumatoid arthritis patients: how persistence with therapy matters

摘要

IntroductionBenefits of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) in early rheumatoid arthritis patients (ERAP) will be achieved if patients follow prescribed treatment. Objective was to investigate whether timing of first non-persistence period and/or duration of persistence during the first 4 years of follow-up predicted disease outcomes at the 5^th year in a cohort of ERAP, initiated in 2004.