{"title":"Rheumatologists' Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drug Preferences for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from a Survey in Nigeria.","authors":"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","doi":"10.4103/aam.aam_98_25","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There 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.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Online 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.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A 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.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MTX 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.</p>","PeriodicalId":7938,"journal":{"name":"Annals of African Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Annals of African Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.4103/aam.aam_98_25","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
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Abstract
Background: There 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.
Methods: Online 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.
Results: A 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.
Conclusion: MTX 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.
期刊介绍：
The Annals of African Medicine is published by the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria and the Annals of African Medicine Society. The Journal is intended to serve as a medium for the publication of research findings in the broad field of Medicine in Africa and other developing countries, and elsewhere which have relevance to Africa. It will serve as a source of information on the state of the art of Medicine in Africa, for continuing education for doctors in Africa and other developing countries, and also for the publication of meetings and conferences. The journal will publish articles I any field of Medicine and other fields which have relevance or implications for Medicine.
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