Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40758107›Full record

ArticleAnnals of African medicine2026

Rheumatologists' Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drug Preferences for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from a Survey in Nigeria.

Celestine Chibuzo Okwara, Nkeiruka Chigekwu Mbadiwe, Birinus Ezeala-Adikaibe, Ugochi Chika Onu, Michael Abonyi, Fintan Ekochin, Ijeoma Ndionuka, Winifred Njideka Adiri, Nkiruka Pauline Onodugo, Ijeoma Onwuchekwa

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Article in Annals of African medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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10 authors.

Celestine Chibuzo OkwaraDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
Nkeiruka Chigekwu MbadiweDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
Birinus Ezeala-AdikaibeDepartment of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
Ugochi Chika OnuDepartment of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
Michael AbonyiDepartment of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria.
Fintan EkochinDepartment of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria.
Ijeoma NdionukaDepartment of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
Winifred Njideka AdiriDepartment of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
Nkiruka Pauline OnodugoDepartment of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.
Ijeoma OnwuchekwaDepartment of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere are regional differences in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) use and availability. These stem from factors and peculiarities in population characteristics and socioeconomic indices. There is no published literature on the DMARD preferences or prescription patterns in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to document the prescription pattern of DMARD in Nigeria as well as factors affecting the choice of DMARD among Nigerian rheumatologists and establish a documentary evidence of what the real-life prescription pattern is in a low-middle income country for the treatment of RA.

methodsOnline survey using pretested structured questionnaire inputted on the SurveyMonkey App and its link sent to and answers received from practicing Nigeria consultant rheumatologists. Analysis of data was done using data exported to SPSS.

resultsA total of 26 (63.4%) responses from consultant rheumatologists in Nigeria were received. Most participants (84.62% [22]) had their place of practice at a teaching hospital. The initial choice of DMARD monotherapy was methotrexate (MTX) (88.5%), followed by sulphasalazine (11.5%). Cost of medications, need for rapid disease control, and presence of joint erosions were the most common reasons that influenced rheumatologists' choice of DMARDs. Prescription rate of biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) was low.

conclusionMTX remains the DMARD of first choice for RA among Nigerian rheumatologists. Conventional synthetic DMARDs are the commonly available, widely used, and still effective armamentarium for RA in resource-poor settings like Nigeria. bDMARDs prescription rate for RA remains low in Nigeria.

Indexed as

Antirheumatic AgentsArthritis, RheumatoidPractice Patterns, Physicians'RheumatologistsAdultFemaleHumansMaleMethotrexateMiddle AgedNigeriaSulfasalazineSurveys and QuestionnairesAntirheumatic AgentsMethotrexateSulfasalazineAntirhumatismaux modificateurs de la maladieDisease modifying antirheumatic drugspolyarthrite rhumatoïdepreferencespréférencesrheumatoid arthritisrheumatologistsrhumatologues

Identifiers

PMID40758107
PMCPMC13056322

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