Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40700294›Full record

ArticleAntibodies (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Survival Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Receiving Biologic or Targeted Synthetic Therapy: Real-World Data.

Zhaklin Apostolova, Tanya Shivacheva, Tsvetoslav Georgiev

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Antibodies (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
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

3 authors.

Zhaklin ApostolovaFirst Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Varna, 9002 Varna, Bulgaria.
Tanya ShivachevaFirst Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Varna, 9002 Varna, Bulgaria.ORCID 0000-0001-7789-4100
Tsvetoslav GeorgievFirst Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University-Varna, 9002 Varna, Bulgaria.ORCID 0000-0002-1652-4648

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe present study aimed to evaluate the long-term survival of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) in a real-world setting, and to identify key prognostic factors influencing mortality within this cohort.

methodsThis retrospective, observational cohort study analyzed 165 patients with confirmed RA who were on b/tsDMARD treatment for at least six months as of June 2017. Patient data, including demographics, disease duration, prior therapeutic regimens, and global functional status were extracted from medical records to collect data covering a seven-year follow-up period, extending from June 2017 to December 2024. Corticosteroid use was defined as continuous systemic intake during the RA activity analysis period. Survival outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models to identify independent predictors of mortality.

resultsOver a mean follow-up of 9.4 years, the mortality rate was 13.5 deaths per 1000 treatment-years, with an overall survival rate of 87.3%. Advanced functional disability and prolonged corticosteroid use were independently associated with higher mortality risk. In subgroup analyses, chronic kidney disease significantly increased mortality among patients on TNF inhibitors. In contrast, patients who remained on their initial anti-IL6 therapy had lower mortality, though this may reflect survivor bias.

conclusionsThis study highlights the importance of long-term b/tsDMARD intervention in RA patients, with observed low mortality and high survival rates. Subgroup findings suggest the importance of comorbidity management in TNFi users and therapeutic stability in anti-IL6 users.

Indexed as

biological therapyglucocorticoidsmortalityprognosisrheumatoid arthritissurvivaltargeted antirheumatic agents

Identifiers

PMID40700294
PMCPMC12286266

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