All patients n=49 413 | ||
Patients receiving SLE medications, n (%) | 44 368 | (89.8) |
Class 1: antimalarials | 29 218 | (59.1) |
Class 2: prescription NSAIDs | 18 496 | (37.4) |
Class 3: corticosteroids | 33 845 | (68.5) |
Oral | 24 967 | (50.5) |
Infusion/injection | 15 831 | (32.0) |
Topical | 9680 | (19.6) |
Class 4: immunosuppressants* | 13 042 | (26.4) |
Class 5: biologics | 1579 | (3.2) |
Belimumab | 1061 | (2.1) |
Belimumab intravenous | 1029 | (2.1) |
Belimumab subcutaneous | 43 | (0.1) |
Rituximab intravenous | 538 | (1.1) |
Number of claims per patient (mean, SD) | ||
Class 1: antimalarials | 5.66 | 3.46 |
Class 2: prescription NSAIDs | 3.41 | 3.08 |
Class 3: corticosteroids | 4.59 | 4.11 |
Oral | 4.00 | 3.45 |
Infusion/injection | 2.35 | 2.50 |
Topical | 1.90 | 1.72 |
Class 4: immunosuppressants | 6.01 | 4.47 |
Class 5: biologics | 5.91 | 4.04 |
Belimumab | 7.28 | 4.10 |
Belimumab intravenous | 7.33 | 4.10 |
Belimumab subcutaneous | 4.09 | 2.88 |
Rituximab intravenous | 2.99 | 1.77 |
Number of classes used, n (%) | ||
No therapy | 5045 | (10.2) |
One drug class (monotherapy) | 11 942 | (24.2) |
Two drug classes | 16 937 | (34.3) |
Three drug classes | 11 886 | (24.1) |
Four drug classes | 3309 | (6.7) |
Five drug classes | 294 | (0.6) |
Opioid use, n (%) | 25 982 | (52.6) |
Weak opioids | 10 280 | (20.8) |
Strong opioids | 21 861 | (44.2) |
Acute opioid use (<90 days of cumulative drug supply) | 16 997 | (34.4) |
Chronic opioid use (90+ days of cumulative drug supply) | 8985 | (18.2) |
*Azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), leflunomide, methotrexate, mycophenolate and tacrolimus.
NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.