[The Real World Study on Evaluating the Effect of Chinese Medicine Combined Western Medicine in Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis].

Objective To observe the curative effect of Chinese medicine (CM) combined West- ern medicine (WM) in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Methods Totally 351 RA patients were allocated into two groups by their willingness, 52 cases in the control group and 299 cases in the combination group. Treatment of WM mainly included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorti- coids, and anti-rheumatic drugs. And treatment based on syndrome differentiation of CM was adopted. Four diagnostic information of CM, joint pain, tenderness, swelling index, laboratory indices, and treat- ment expenses were observed. Disease activity score 28 (DAS28) , quality of life score [health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) ] , and efficacy of disease were assessed. Results After 2-3 months of treatment, the total effective rate was higher in the combination group than in the control group (P < 0. 05). After 6-12 months of treatment, the total effective rate, DAS28, and HAQ score were better in the combination group than in the control group (P <0. 05). There was no statistical difference in use of Western drugs, total expenses of hospitalization, total expenses of outpatient service between the two groups (P >0. 05). Patients who were treated by combined treatment, or having higher DAS obtained better effects after 2-3 months of treatment (P <0. 05). Patients who were treated by combined treatment, or having lower DAS obtained better effects after 6-12 months of treatment (P <0. 05). Conclusions Real world study (RWS) observed that combined CM and WM could get more significant effect. It also could effectively reduce disease activity, improve patients' QOL, with no economic burdens added.