[Basic treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis. Abstaining from rheumatological care and preferring alternative medicine increase the risk of undertreatment].

The major challenge in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the early initiation and long-term continuation of disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy. A total of 916 RA patients (ACR criteria, disease duration <2 years) were investigated in regard to frequency and reasons for DMARD discontinuation. All patients were under rheumatological care at the start of the observation and almost all were receiving DMARDs at study entry (95%). The proportion decreased to 87% within 3 years. Of the 171 patients without DMARD, 5% abstained due to (planned) pregnancy, 28% due to contraindications and/or severe adverse events and 54% due to remission. Only 12% were non-compliant. Multivariate regression analysis revealed non-specialised care (OR 4.6; 59% CI 3.2-6.7), RF seronegativity (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.8-3.8), no patient education (OR 2.2; CI 95% 1.5-3.4), preference for alternative medicine (OR 8.2; 95% CI 4.0-16.8) and > or =10 years of education (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.3-2.7) as independent risks for DMARD abstention. Age, sex, comorbidity or disease activity did not influence adherence to DMARD therapy. Since preference for alternative medicine was the strongest risk predictor, further investigations are needed to determine the characteristics of this preference regarding compliance with DMARD medication in RA. The positive influence of patient education on DMARD continuation emphasizes its importance.