Tolerance, survival and adherence to treatment with methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Background: Methotrexate (MTX) is the most frequently used medication in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). However, several authors have questioned its success due to the presence of adverse events and the lack of adherence. Objectives: to determine cumulative survival of MTX, frequency and type of adverse events and causes of discontinuation in patients with RA. Methods: consecutive patients 18 years and older with a diagnosis of RA (ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria), who had begun treatment with MTX during their disease were included. Sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic data were collected. Date of initiation and suspension of MTX, route of administration, concomitant treatments, consumption of coffee and tobacco, presence of adverse events (AE) were all consigned. Adherence was evaluated using the Compliance Questionnaire Rheumatology questionnaire 5-item summary version (CQR5). Statistical analysis: descriptive statistics. Chi2 test or Fisher’s exact test; Survival of treatment by Kaplan-Meier and log Rank. Multiple logistic regression. A p value <0.05 was considered significant.