Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.

Introduction: Numerous studies across different health systems have documented that many patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) do not receive disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Relatively little is known about correlates of DMARD use and whether there are socioeconomic and demographic disparities. We examined DMARD use during 2001 to 2006 in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS), a longitudinal US survey of randomly selected Medicare beneficiaries.

Variation in initial kidney replacement therapy for end-stage renal disease due to lupus nephritis in the United States.

Objective: Little is known about the patterns of use of initial kidney replacement therapies among patients with lupus nephritis (LN) end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We aimed to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with variation in initial kidney replacement therapies among LN ESRD patients.

Methods: Patients with incident LN ESRD (1995-2006) were identified in the US Renal Data System.

Use of disease-modifying medications for rheumatoid arthritis by race and ethnicity in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

Objective: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are recommended for virtually all patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated the use of DMARDs in patients with RA in a nationally representative sample of visits to US physicians in the National Ambulatory Care Medical Survey (NAMCS).

Methods: We analyzed the NAMCS visit data from 1996 through 2007 if the physician noted a diagnosis of RA.

End-stage renal disease due to lupus nephritis among children in the US, 1995-2006.

Objective: To identify predictors of wait-listing for kidney transplantation, kidney transplantation, and mortality among children with lupus nephritis-associated end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Methods: Children ages 5-18 years with new-onset lupus nephritis-associated ESRD were identified in the US Renal Data System (1995-2006). Demographic and clinical characteristics, causes of death, and predictors of wait-listing for kidney transplantation, kidney transplantation, and mortality during the first 5 years of ESRD were investigated.

Trends in the incidence, demographics, and outcomes of end-stage renal disease due to lupus nephritis in the US from 1995 to 2006.

Objective: This study was undertaken to investigate whether recent advances in lupus nephritis treatment have led to changes in the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) secondary to lupus nephritis, or in the characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of patients with lupus nephritis ESRD.

Methods: Patients with incident lupus nephritis ESRD (1995-2006) were identified in the US Renal Data System. Trends in sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were assessed.