Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41545310›Full record

Observational studyRMD open2026

Comparison of tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib and filgotinib: a 2-year observational study from FIRST registry.

Koshiro Sonomoto, Shingo Nakayamada, Hidenori Sakai, Masanobu Ueno, Hiroaki Tanaka, Atsushi Nagayasu, Takafumi Aritomi, Makoto Okawara, Akinori Nakata, Yoshiya Tanaka

Abstract readObservational StudyComparative StudyMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in RMD open, 2026. 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. Article
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

10 authors.

Koshiro SonomotoDepartment of Clinical Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-4003-8842
Shingo NakayamadaThe First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-2209-8454
Hidenori SakaiThe First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-6220-1233
Masanobu UenoThe First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.ORCID 0009-0003-0212-172X
Hiroaki TanakaThe First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.ORCID 0000-0003-3022-1317
Atsushi NagayasuThe First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-0383-1091
Takafumi AritomiThe First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.ORCID 0000-0003-0266-2342
Makoto OkawaraDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-2777-743X
Akinori NakataDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.ORCID 0000-0003-3008-4615
Yoshiya TanakaDepartment of Molecular Targeted Therapeutics, University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan tanaka@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp.ORCID 0000-0002-0807-7139

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo compare the 2-year clinical effectiveness of the four globally approved Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis; tofacitinib (TOF), baricitinib (BAR), upadacitinib (UPA) and filgotinib (FIL)) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in real-world settings.

methodsThis retrospective cohort study used data from FIRST registry, a multicentre registry of patients with RA. The primary endpoint was the change in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score at year 2. Secondary endpoints included changes in individual CDAI components, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and reasons for JAKi discontinuation. Multivariable mixed-effects models adjusted for baseline characteristics were used to compare the four JAKis.

resultsA total of 607 treatment courses with JAKis (TOF: 159, BAR: 262, UPA: 122, FIL: 64) were included. Baseline characteristics differed notably among treatment groups: UPA and FIL were frequently used as the second-line JAKis for older patients with comorbidities. The 2-year overall retention rate was 78%. The most common reason for discontinuation was insufficient effectiveness, with 6.5/100 person-years (py), followed by adverse events of 4.2/100 py. As-observed analysis demonstrated the slower improvement in the UPA and FIL groups. However, multivariable analysis revealed no significant differences in CDAI or PROs. The UPA group demonstrated greater improvement in two CDAI components: tender joint count and evaluator's global assessment.

conclusionThis real-world study found no clinically meaningful differences in 2-year effectiveness among four JAKis, although the study was not powerful enough to detect differences in safety. Further long-term, real-world data are needed to evaluate the safety of these agents and refine their risk-benefit profiles.

Indexed as

Arthritis, RheumatoidHeterocyclic Compounds, 3-RingJanus Kinase InhibitorsAgedAntirheumatic AgentsAzetidinesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPiperidinesPurinesPyrazolesPyrimidinesRegistriesRetrospective StudiesAntirheumatic AgentsAzetidinesbaricitinibHeterocyclic Compounds, 3-RingJanus Kinase InhibitorsPiperidinesPurinesPyrazolesPyrimidinesSulfonamidestofacitinibupadacitinibDMARDPatient Reported Outcome MeasuresRheumatoid Arthritis

Identifiers

PMID41545310
PMCPMC12815099

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.