APLAR rheumatoid arthritis treatment recommendations

• Published in: International journal of rheumatic diseases Vol. 18; no. 7; pp. 685 - 713
• Main Authors: Lau, Chak Sing, Chia, Faith, Harrison, Andrew, Hsieh, Tsu-Yi, Jain, Rahul, Jung, Seung Min, Kishimoto, Mitsumasa, Kumar, Ashok, Leong, Khai Pang, Li, Zhanguo, Lichauco, Juan Javier, Louthrenoo, Worawit, Luo, Shue-Fen, Nash, Peter, Ng, Chin Teck, Park, Sung-Hwan, Suryana, Bagus Putu Putra, Suwannalai, Parawee, Wijaya, Linda Kurniaty, Yamamoto, Kazuhiko, Yang, Yue, Yeap, Swan Sim
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Arthritis, Rheumatoid - diagnosis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - therapy; Consensus; drug treatment; Evidence-Based Medicine - standards; Humans; Rheumatism; Rheumatoid arthritis; Rheumatology; Rheumatology - standards; rheumatoid arthritis; drug treatment
• ISSN: 1756-1841; 1756-185X
• DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.12754

Aims Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects approximately 1% of the world's population. There are a wide number of guidelines and recommendations available to support the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; however, the evidence used for these guidelines is predominantly based on studies in Caucasian subjects and may not be relevant for rheumatoid arthritis patients in the Asia‐Pacific region. Therefore, the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology established a Steering Committee in 2013 to address this issue. Materials and methods The AGREE II instrument and the ADAPTE Collaboration framework were applied to systematically identify, appraise, synthesize, and adapt international rheumatoid arthritis guidelines for use in the Asia‐Pacific region. Results Forty rheumatoid arthritis treatment recommendations, based on evidence and expert opinion, were drafted and are presented in this report. Conclusion The Asia Pacific of Associations for Rheumatology rheumatoid arthritis treatment recommendations are intended to serve as a reference for best practice management of rheumatoid arthritis in Asia‐Pacific, focusing on local issues to ensure the delivery of basic care for these patients, and to improve their outcomes. In addition, the document will serve as a reference for national rheumatology associations in Asia‐Pacific for developing guidelines in their respective countries.