DISEASE ACTIVITY AND TREATMENT PATTERNS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN CROATIA

Sa？etak Background: Access to biologic treatment diff er in EU countries and is influenced by different factors. In CEE countries 1%–5% of all RA patients are treated with biological therapy. Factors influencing prescriptions of biologics in CEE are mostly macroeconomic conditions and restrictive treatment guidelines but also shortage of specialist prescribers, administrative hurdless and availability of care. [1]. There are published data on access to biologic treatment in Central and Eastern EU countries but there currently is no data in Croatia. Objectives: Th e aim of this study was to assess and compare patient care and access to biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated in secondary and tertiary institutions in Croatia. Methods: Non-interventional, multicenter study with retrospective chart review to collect demographics and clinical characteristics from patient’s history and a cross-sectional study on date of visit to the rheumatologist with evaluation of DAS28 score and therapeutic interventions taken at this cross-sectional visit. Study was conducted in 398 RA patients from Balkan region and this subanalysis is showing results on 130 RA patients from 8 sites in Croatia. Results: Results here are obtained from Non-interventional, Multicenter, Cross-sectional Study to Estimate Disease Activity and Treatment Patterns in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Balkan Region and assesing information about cros sectional status of DAS28 score and access to biologic therapy in 130 patients from 8 sites in Croatia. Average age was 56.4 years,and 85.4% were female. Results of the DAS28 cross-sectional status showing that 34,6% of patients are in status of moderate and 16% are in active disease. (Fig. 1) Mean time to introduction of biological therapy was 8.2 years. In a total of 28 (21.5%) subjects who had biologic treatment the mean DAS28 score at the time of start of biologic treatment was 5.5 (median 5.45; range 2.7–7.9). The mean time to introduction of biologic terapy was 8.2 years. Conclusions: In this study, a half of patients despite treatment had moderate to active disease. The time to introduction of biologic therapy is very long. Th is clearly show a treatment gap regarding timely introduction of biologic therapy. References: 1. Orlewska E, Ancuta I, Anic B et al. Access to biologic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. Med Sci Monit 2011; 17(4): 1–1