Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39308007›Full record

ArticleArthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.)2025

Effectiveness of JAK Inhibitors Compared With Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs on Pain Reduction in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From a Nationwide Swedish Cohort Study.

Anna Eberhard, Daniela Di Giuseppe, Johan Askling, Stefan Bergman, Hannah Bower, Katerina Chatzidionysiou, Helena Forsblad-d'Elia, Alf Kastbom, Tor Olofsson, Thomas Frisell and 1 more

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Anna EberhardLund University, Malmö, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-9408-4150
Daniela Di GiuseppeKarolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Johan AsklingKarolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Stefan BergmanInstitute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Hannah BowerKarolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Katerina ChatzidionysiouKarolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-2669-1247
Helena Forsblad-d'EliaSahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Alf KastbomLinköping University, Linköping, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-7187-1477
Tor OlofssonLund University, Lund, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-9919-4487
Thomas FrisellKarolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Carl TuressonLund University, Malmö, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-3805-2290

Funding

Lund University ALFSKANE-446501Swedish Research Council 2015-02228Swedish Rheumatism Association R-664091
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo compare the effectiveness of JAK inhibitors (JAKis) and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) on pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

methodsIn this retrospective study, we investigated patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, starting treatment with a JAKi (n = 1,827), a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi; n = 6,422), an interleukin-6 inhibitor (n = 887), abatacept (n = 1,102), or rituximab (n = 1,149) in 2017 to 2019, using data from several linked Swedish national registers. Differences in change in pain, assessed with a visual analog scale (0-100 mm), from baseline to 3 months, as well as proportions of patients remaining on initial treatment with low pain (visual analog scale pain <20) at 12 months, were compared between treatments. Comparisons of treatment responses between JAKis and bDMARDs were evaluated using multivariable linear regression, adjusted for patient characteristics, comorbidities, current comedication, and previous treatment.

resultsJAKi treatment was associated with a greater decrease in pain at 3 months compared with TNFi treatment (adjusted mean additional decrease 4.0 mm; 95% confidence interval 1.6-6.3), with similar trends in comparisons with non-TNFi bDMARDs. More patients achieved low pain at 12 months on JAKis compared with TNFis, in particular among those previously treated with at least two bDMARDs (adjusted change contrast 5.3 percentage points; 95% confidence interval 1.0-9.6).

conclusionJAKis had a slightly better effect on pain outcomes at 3 and 12 months compared with TNFis, with significantly greater differences in patients previously treated with at least two bDMARDs. The effect of JAKis on pain reduction was at least similar to that of non-TNFi bDMARDs.

Indexed as

Antirheumatic AgentsArthritis, RheumatoidBiological ProductsJanus Kinase InhibitorsAbataceptAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementRetrospective StudiesRituximabSwedenTreatment OutcomeAbataceptAntirheumatic AgentsBiological ProductsJanus Kinase InhibitorsRituximabTumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors

Identifiers

PMID39308007
PMCPMC11865685

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.