Use of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and risk of multiple myeloma in US Veterans with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract: Background: Biologic (b) and targeted synthetic (ts) disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) used in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) target inflammatory pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). It is unknown whether use of b/tsDMARDs affects the incidence of MM. Methods: In this cohort study using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) data, we identified Veterans newly diagnosed with RA from 1/1/2002 to 12/31/2018 using diagnostic codes and medication fills. DMARD exposure was categorized as follows: conventional synthetic (cs)DMARDs; bDMARDs, which included tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), non-TNFi; and a tsDMARD, tofacitinib. A Cox proportional hazards model with time-varying exposure was used to estimate the hazard ratio for developing MM among those who received b/tsDMARD medications relative to b/tsDMARD-na & iuml;ve persons. Results: 27,540 veterans with RA met eligibility criteria of whom 8322 (30%) took a b/tsDMARD during follow-up. There were 77 incident cases of MM over 192,000 person-years of follow-up. The age-adjusted incidence rate (IR) of MM among b/tsDMARD-na & iuml;ve patients was 0.37 (95% CI 0.28-0.49) per 1000 person-years and 0.42 among current or former b/tsDMARD users (95% CI 0.25-0.65). Adjusting for age and other demographic characteristics, the hazard ratio for MM associated with use of b/tsDMARDs was 1.32 (95% CI 0.78, 2.26). Conclusion: In this study of Veterans with RA, the rate of MM did not differ between b/tsDMARD and csDMARD users. The relatively short duration of follow-up and few events limited our power to detect treatment-related differences in MM risk.

Read the full article
Report a problem with this article

Related articles

  • More for Researchers

    Risk of incident mild cognitive impairment and dementia soon after leaving incarceration among a US Veteran population

    Abstract: Objectives: Increasing numbers of older adults are reentering community following incarceration (i.e., reentry), yet risk of incident neurodegenerative disorders associated with reentry is unknown. Our objective was to determine association between reentry status (reentry vs never-incarcerated) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and/or dementia. Methods: This nationwide, longitudinal cohort study used linked Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Veterans Health Administration data. Participants were aged 65 years or older who experienced reentry between October 1, 2012, and December 31, 2018, with no preincarceration MCI/dementia, compared with age-matched/sex-matched never-incarcerated veterans. MCI/dementia was defined by diagnostic codes. Fine-Gray proportional hazards models were used to examine association. Results: This study included 35,520 veterans, mean age of 70 years, and approximately 1% women. The reentry group (N = 5,920) had higher incidence of MCI/dementia compared with the never-incarcerated group (N = 29,600; 10.2% vs 7.2%; fully adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.12; 95% CI 1.00-1.25). On further investigation, reentry was associated with increased risk of dementia with or without prior MCI diagnosis (aHR 1.21; 95% CI 1.06-1.39) but not MCI only. Discussion: Transition from incarceration to community increased risk of neurocognitive diagnosis. Findings indicate health/social services to identify and address significant cognitive deficits on late-life reentry. Limitations include generalizability to nonveterans.