Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
185,139 studies31 sourcesUpdated 30 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC 4.0Arthritis Care & Research

Real‐World Trends in Prenatal Antirheumatic Drug Utilization in Ontario, Canada: A Cross‐Sectional Time‐Series Analysis

  • Shenthuraan Tharmarajah1,2
  • Swaleh Hussain1,2
  • Sara J. T. Guilcher1,2,3
  • Lisa M. McCarthy1,3,4
  • Dharini Mahendira1,5
  • Howard Berger1,5
  • Mina Tadrous1,2,4
5 affiliations
  1. 1University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
  2. 2ICES Toronto Ontario Canada
  3. 3Trillium Health Partners Mississauga Ontario Canada
  4. 4Women's College Hospital Toronto Ontario Canada
  5. 5St. Michael's Hospital Toronto Ontario Canada
Read full textDOICite

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to describe real‐world trends in preconception and prenatal use of antirheumatic drugs among pregnant individuals with rheumatic diseases in Ontario, Canada.

Methods: We conducted a time‐series analysis using repeated cross‐sectional data to examine annual patterns of disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) use among pregnant individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis, and/or axial spondyloarthritis. The study included those with Ontario Drug Benefit Program (ODB) coverage who delivered between April 1, 2006, and March 31, 2021. For calendar years 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019, we described demographic, clinical, and DMARD use characteristics among ODB beneficiaries.

Results: The cohort included 5,256 pregnant individuals, with 576 preconception and 697 prenatal ODB beneficiaries. Preconception DMARD use remained relatively stable, but biologic DMARD use increased by 293.1%, from 8.3 to 32.8 users per 100 eligible population from fiscal years 2006 to 2020 (P = 0.004). Prenatal DMARD use rose by 5.7% (P = 0.02), with biologic DMARD use increasing by 775.0%, from 3.6 to 31.3 users per 100 eligible population (P < 0.001). Across the annual cohorts, the proportion of those who used DMARDs prenatally nearly doubled from 26.3% to 45.2% (P = 0.01). Among those who used DMARDs, the proportion receiving a single DMARD rose to 32.9% in 2019, and the proportion receiving two or more DMARDs also rose to 12.3% (P = 0.02).

Conclusion: Prenatal antirheumatic drug use has increased, particularly for biologic DMARDs. These trends reflect evolving treatment practices aimed at optimizing disease control and pregnancy outcomes for individuals with rheumatic diseases.

Related

  1. Characterizing trends and patterns in benzodiazepine-related toxicity deaths in Ontario: A descriptive cross-sectional study
    Tonya Campbell, Shaleesa Ledlie, Pamela Leece +9
    PLOS OnePeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Pharmacology & toxicologyPLOS
  2. Prenatal cannabis use disorder and postpartum psychiatric emergency department visits: A retrospective cohort study of trends and associations in California, 2016–2021
    LaMecia De Alba, Claire E. Margerison, Alison Gemmill +1
    Annals of epidemiologyPeer-reviewedLicence not statedFull textEpidemiology & public healthPMC
  3. Temporal Trends and Demographic Disparities in Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Utilization in the United States, 2016-2022
    B. Shaun, M. R. Movahed, M. Hashemzadeh +1
    medRxivPreprintAll rights reservedFull textCardiovascular medicinemedRxiv
  4. State Benefit Issuance Systems and Prenatal WIC Participation Trends During the COVID-19 Pandemic
    Janay R. Johnson, Leslie Hodges, Marie E. Thoma
    NutrientsPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0NutritionCrossref
  5. Trends in Tracheostomy Utilization, Tracheostomy Dependence, and Outcomes Before and After the COVID‐19 Pandemic
    Eduardo Williams‐Medina, William S. Tierney
    Laryngoscope Investigative OtolaryngologyPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textGeneral medicinePMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{tharmarajah2026realworld,
  title = {{Real‐World Trends in Prenatal Antirheumatic Drug Utilization in Ontario, Canada: A Cross‐Sectional Time‐Series Analysis}},
  author = {Shenthuraan Tharmarajah and Swaleh Hussain and Sara J. T. Guilcher and Lisa M. McCarthy and Dharini Mahendira and Howard Berger and Mina Tadrous},
  journal = {Arthritis Care \& Research},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.1002/acr.80079},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.80079},
  note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Real‐World Trends in Prenatal Antirheumatic Drug Utilization in Ontario, Canada: A Cross‐Sectional Time‐Series Analysis
AU  - Shenthuraan Tharmarajah
AU  - Swaleh Hussain
AU  - Sara J. T. Guilcher
AU  - Lisa M. McCarthy
AU  - Dharini Mahendira
AU  - Howard Berger
AU  - Mina Tadrous
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/12
JO  - Arthritis Care & Research
DO  - 10.1002/acr.80079
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.80079
AB  - Objective: This study aimed to describe real‐world trends in preconception and prenatal use of antirheumatic drugs among pregnant individuals with rheumatic diseases in Ontario, Canada.  Methods: We conducted a time‐series analysis using repeated cross‐sectional data to examine annual patterns of disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) use among pregnant individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis, and/or axial spondyloarthritis. The study included those with Ontario Drug Benefit Program (ODB) coverage who delivered between April 1, 2006, and March 31, 2021. For calendar years 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019, we described demographic, clinical, and DMARD use characteristics among ODB beneficiaries.  Results: The cohort included 5,256 pregnant individuals, with 576 preconception and 697 prenatal ODB beneficiaries. Preconception DMARD use remained relatively stable, but biologic DMARD use increased by 293.1%, from 8.3 to 32.8 users per 100 eligible population from fiscal years 2006 to 2020 (P = 0.004). Prenatal DMARD use rose by 5.7% (P = 0.02), with biologic DMARD use increasing by 775.0%, from 3.6 to 31.3 users per 100 eligible population (P < 0.001). Across the annual cohorts, the proportion of those who used DMARDs prenatally nearly doubled from 26.3% to 45.2% (P = 0.01). Among those who used DMARDs, the proportion receiving a single DMARD rose to 32.9% in 2019, and the proportion receiving two or more DMARDs also rose to 12.3% (P = 0.02).  Conclusion: Prenatal antirheumatic drug use has increased, particularly for biologic DMARDs. These trends reflect evolving treatment practices aimed at optimizing disease control and pregnancy outcomes for individuals with rheumatic diseases.
SN  - 2151-464X
SN  - 2151-4658
ER  -