Conclusions
Early treatment of RA patients with biologics could minimize the
prolonged usage of both glucocorticoids and NSAIDs is proved in this
retrospective cohort study with national insurance database. The best
timing of initiation biologics found in this study is within 2.24 years
of diagnosis RA. Both gender and age were found to be independent
factors that could decrease days of prescription of both steroids and
NSAIDs in early use of biologics agents, such as Etanercept and
Adalimumab. This result has an important clinical implication that
reflects updated treatment guidelines to use steroids at the lowest dose
possible, compare between those patients use biologics and those not.