Comparison of glucocorticoids and painkiller prescribed days between rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving early and late treatment with a biological agent via a population-based cohort study.

Zon-Min Lee, MS1, Yao Hsu Yang, MD, PhD2-4, Ho-Chang Kuo, MD, PhD5, Ya-Han Shen6, Hong-Ren Yu, MD,PhD7*, Yu-Jih Su, MD, PhD8*
1Department of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan 83301
2Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
3Health Information and Epidemiology Laboratory of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
4School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
5Kawasaki Disease Center and Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan 83301
6Biostatistics Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan 83301
7Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan 83301
8Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 83301
Yu-Jih Su and Hong-Ren Yu contributed equally to this manuscript
Corresponding Author:
Yu-Jih Su
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E-mail: bensu8@gmail.com