Pregnancies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus during 2000-2018 in Finland: a case-control study.

Objectives: The aim was to investigate, how pregnancies proceed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to their individually matched population controls.

Material And Methods: Adult incident SLE patients were identified from the register of new special reimbursement decisions for SLE drugs in 2000-2014. For each patient, 1-3 randomly selected controls from the Population Register Centre were matched.

Impact of TNF inhibitor medication on working ability in axial spondyloarthritis: an observational national registry-based cohort study.

Objective: The aim was to investigate the effect of TNF inhibitor (TNFi) initiation on working ability and health-care resource utilization among axial SpA patients in a real-life setting.

Methods: Patients with a clinical diagnosis of non-radiographic (nr-axSpA) or radiographic axial SpA initiating their first TNFi were identified from the National Register for Antirheumatic and Biologic Treatment in Finland. Sickness absences, including sick leave and disability pension, in- and outpatient days and rehabilitation rates, 1 year before and after initiating the medication were retrieved from national registries.

Burden of idiopathic inflammatory rheumatic diseases in occupational healthcare: increased absenteeism and healthcare resource utilization.

Objectives: Patients with idiopathic inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IIRD) often have decreased working capacity resulting in indirect costs. However, data on patients' short-term sick leave has been limited. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the number and length of sick leave, including short-term leave, and occupational healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) of the working-aged patients with IIRD compared to controls.

Use of psychotropic medication in incident juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients from 2000 to 2014: a case-control cohort study.

Objectives: To explore the use of psychotropic medications in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) compared to population controls.

Methods: Using register data from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland and the National Population Registry, we collected all incident JIA patients with index dates from 2000 to 2014 (n=4,180) and three population comparators for each case (n=12,512). For these individuals, we obtained information on their psychotropic medication from the registry on prescriptions, which includes all purchases of prescription medicines in pharmacies.

Malignancies among newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus patients and their survival.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of malignancies among newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients compared to reference individuals. Another aim was to assess the survival of SLE patients with malignancy compared to references with malignancy. Finnish adult (>17 years) newly diagnosed SLE patients were identified by their drug reimbursement decisions made during 1.

Opioid use frequency in early axial spondyloarthritis in Finland - a pharmacoepidemic register study.

Objectives: To evaluate opioid use among incident axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients compared to general population.

Methods: From the national register, we identified all adult patients with axSpA (ICD-10 codes M45-46), who between 2010 and 2014 (index date, ID) were for the first time granted special reimbursement for any disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Three matched population controls were identified for each patient.

Psychiatric disorders in incident patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis - a case-control cohort study.

Background: Chronic illness, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), appears to have an impact on the mental health of children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to explore the incidence of mental and behavioural disorders according to age at JIA onset and gender in JIA patients compared to a control population.

Methods: Information on all incident patients with JIA in 2000-2014 was collected from the nationwide register, maintained by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland.

Usage of drugs for cardiovascular diseases is increased in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients already before diagnosis of SLE.

Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are considered as a high-risk population for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). To explore whether their risk is increased already in preclinical episodes of the disease, we have studied the usage of CVD drugs in incident SLE cases five years before diagnosis of SLE compared to the population controls.

Methods: Adult SLE incident patients (age ≥18 years) from 2004 through 2014 were identified from a nationwide register.

Mortality in SLE patients compared with population controls in Finland in years 2000-2015.

Objective: To estimate the risk of mortality in the Finnish incident SLE cohort in a 16-year period compared with the general population.

Methods: Adults with new-onset SLE between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2014 identified from the national drug reimbursement register and their individually matched controls from the Population Register Centre were followed up until death or 31 December 2015. Data on deaths were retrieved from the national causes of death register.

Is seronegative rheumatoid arthritis true rheumatoid arthritis? A nationwide cohort study.

Objectives: The classification of seronegative arthritides can be challenging. Our aim was to examine the incidence of SpA diagnosis among patients initially diagnosed as seronegative RA.

Methods: Using nationwide Finnish registers from social insurance institutions, we identified all adult patients who were diagnosed with incident seronegative RA [International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 code M06] from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2014.

Multimorbidity among incident Finnish systemic lupus erythematosus patients during 2000-2017.

The objective of the study was to examine the risk of other morbidities among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A total of 1006 adult new-onset SLE patients were identified during 1.1.

EULAR/eumusc.net standards of care for rheumatoid arthritis: cross-sectional analyses of importance, level of implementation and care gaps experienced by patients and rheumatologists across 35 European countries.

Objective: As part of European League against Rheumatism (EULAR)/European Musculoskeletal Conditions Surveillance and Information Network, 20 user-focused standards of care (SoCs) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) addressing 16 domains of care were developed. This study aimed to explore gaps in implementation of these SoCs across Europe.

Methods: Two cross-sectional surveys on the importance, level of and barriers (patients only) to implementation of each SoC (0-10, 10 highest) were designed to be conducted among patients and rheumatologists in 50 European countries.

First-year drug therapy of new-onset rheumatoid and undifferentiated arthritis: a nationwide register-based study.

Background: In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the drug therapies used for early rheumatoid (RA) and undifferentiated (UA) arthritis patients.

Methods: From a nationwide register maintained by the Social Insurance Institution, information on sex, date of birth, and date of special medicine reimbursement decision for all new Finnish RA and UA patients between 2011 and 14 were collected, and their DMARD (Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug) purchases during the first year after the diagnosis were analyzed.

Results: A total of 7338 patients with early RA (67.

Correction to: Trends towards more active introduction of drug therapy, emphasizing methotrexate and biologic agents, for juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

The first and family names of the authors were interchanged and are now presented correctly. The original article has been corrected.

Cervical Spine Involvement among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated Actively with Treat-to-target Strategy: 10-year Results of the NEO-RACo Study.

Objective: To evaluate the development of radiological changes of the cervical spine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the NEO-RACo trial treated with an intensive, remission-targeted combination of conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARD) and additional infliximab (IFX) or placebo (PLA) for the first 6 months.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients with early, DMARD-naive RA were treated with a triple combination of csDMARD and prednisolone, and randomized to double-blindly receive either IFX (FIN-RACo+IFX) or PLA (FIN-RACo+PLA) infusions during the first 6 months. After 2 years the treatment strategies became unrestricted, but the treatment goal was strict NEO-RACo remission.

Opioid Use among Patients with Early Inflammatory Arthritides Compared to the General Population.

Objective: To assess to what extent the worldwide opioid epidemic affects Finnish patients with early inflammatory arthritis (IA).

Methods: From the nationwide register maintained by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, we collected all incident adult patients with newly onset seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA+ and RA-) and undifferentiated arthritis (UA) between 2010 and 2014. For each case, 3 general population (GP) controls were matched according to age, sex, and place of residence.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis facing sick leave or work disability meet varying regulations: a study among rheumatologists and patients from 44 European countries.

Objectives: To describe and explore differences in formal regulations around sick leave and work disability (WD) for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as perceptions by rheumatologists and patients on the system's performance, across European countries.

Methods: We conducted three cross-sectional surveys in 50 European countries: one on work (re-)integration and social security (SS) system arrangements in case of sick leave and long-term WD due to RA (one rheumatologist per country), and two among approximately 15 rheumatologists and 15 patients per country on perceptions regarding SS arrangements on work participation. Differences in regulations and perceptions were compared across categories defined by gross domestic product (GDP), type of social welfare regime, European Union (EU) membership and country RA WD rates.

Trends towards more active introduction of drug therapy, emphasizing methotrexate and biologic agents, for juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

To evaluate the drug treatment trends in patients with incident juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in 2006-2014. In Finland, patients are entitled to a special reimbursement for medication if their condition meets certain criteria. We gathered all reimbursement decisions with the ICD-10 diagnosis of M08 for patients under 16 years of age from a nationwide register maintained by Kela, the Social Institution of Finland.

Cost-effectiveness of abatacept, tocilizumab and TNF-inhibitors compared with rituximab as second-line biologic drug in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of abatacept, tocilizumab, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors as compared with rituximab in Finnish rheumatoid arthritis patients, who have previously been treated with TNF inhibitors.

Methods: A patient-level simulation model was developed to predict costs and outcomes associated with four biological drugs (abatacept, tocilizumab, rituximab and TNF inhibitors) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Following lack of efficacy or adverse events, the patients were switched to another biological drug until all four options were exhausted.

Cost-effectiveness of secukinumab compared to other biologics in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in Finland.

Aim: This study assesses the cost-effectiveness of secukinumab vs currently licensed biologics for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) from the Finnish health care system perspective.

Methods: A semi-Markov model compared secukinumab with adalimumab, adalimumab biosimilar, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, etanercept biosimilar, golimumab, and infliximab in a biologic-naïve population over a lifetime horizon. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was used to assess the treatment response.

The mortality rate and causes of death among juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients in Finland.

Objectives: To explore mortality rates and causes of death in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients in Finland compared with the general population.

Methods: All incident patients with JIA (age <16 years at the index day) during 2000-2014 were collected from the nationwide register maintained by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland and The National Population Registry identified three age-, sex- and residence-matched controls for each case. They were followed up together until 31st Dec 2015.

Automated Text Message-Enhanced Monitoring Versus Routine Monitoring in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Trial.

Objective: Frequent monitoring of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is required for achieving good outcomes. This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of text message (SMS)-enhanced monitoring on early RA outcomes.

Methods: We randomized 166 patients with early, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-naive RA to receive SMS-enhanced follow-up or routine care.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of secukinumab versus other biologics and apremilast in the treatment of active Psoriatic arthritis: a Finnish perspective.

Objective: To study cost-effectiveness of an interleukin (IL)-17A inhibitor secukinumab, with other biologics and apremilast in patients with Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) from payer perspective in Finland.

Methods: In this semi-Markov model, subcutaneous (SC) secukinumab was compared with SC treatments etanercept and its biosimilar, certolizumab pegol, adalimumab and its biosimilar, golimumab, ustekinumab, intravenous (IV) treatment infliximab, as well as oral non-biologic apremilast. Patients without prior exposure (naïve) to biologics and without moderate to severe psoriasis were considered for secukinumab 150 mg group.