Treatment patterns of biologics in US patients with ankylosing spondylitis: descriptive analyses from a claims database

Aim: Examine treatment patterns among patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) treated with a TNF inhibitor (TNFi). Patients & methods: Patients with AS who initiated a TNFi between 1 January 2013, and 31 January 2015, were identified in the Optum Research Database. Outcomes included adherence, persistence, discontinuation and therapy modifications of the index TNFi during 12-month follow-up. Results: Of the 426 patients included, 40.6% persisted on the index TNFi for ≥12 months, 31.0% discontinued, 21.4% switched to a different TNFi, and 7.0% discontinued and then restarted. Of the 333 patients who persisted on their TNFi for >90 days, 44.7% received ≥1 add-on medication. Conclusion: A high proportion of patients with AS switched, discontinued or modified their TNFi therapy.