SynthesisRMD open2026
Effects of biologic and targeted synthetic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) on patient-reported outcome domains in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analyses.
Synthesis in RMD open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionEvidence from head-to-head comparisons of biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is lacking. This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) aims to evaluate the relative effects of b/tsDMARDs on the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) RA-relevant domains of pain, fatigue, activity limitation, and physical and mental health.
methodsA systematic literature search was conducted using the machine learning tool ASReview. Randomised controlled trials were included that compared DMARDs with placebo or other DMARDs and reported the effects on PROs from the ICHOM standard set for inflammatory arthritis. Random effects NMA were performed on PROs.
resultsIn total, 99 studies were included, with heterogeneity within comparisons ranging from low to very high (I²=0%-96%). Janus kinase inhibitors (mean difference (MD) Health Assessment Questionnaire: -0.13; 95% CI-0.23 to -0.04) and IL-6 inhibitors (MD: -0.13; 95% CI -0.27 to -0.00) were significantly better at reducing activity limitation than tumour necrosis factor inhibitors. Other significant differences between b/tsDMARD classes were not observed. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve demonstrated that rituximab was overall ranked best among b/tsDMARDs. IL-6 inhibitors ranked highest in the mental health domain (82%). Early RA (<3 years diagnosis) and worse baseline PRO scores were associated with larger improvements of PROs (p<0.05).
conclusionsDespite heterogeneity, the results of this study may help rheumatologists guide selection of b/tsDMARDs, taking into account PROs that are important to the patient or reflect their primary symptoms. Future research should investigate within-class differences between specific b/tsDMARDs and emphasise individualised, PRO-based augmentation within treat-to-target strategies. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020147514.
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