Adherence to Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Triple Therapy vs. Methotrexate/Etanercept

For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who respond inadequately to initial treatment with methotrexate monotherapy, options include adding hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine (i.e., triple therapy) or a biologic (e.g., etanercept [Enbrel]). Although studies have shown similar outcomes with both strategies (NEJM JW Gen Med Aug 15 2013 and N Engl J Med 2013; 369:307), some evidence indicates that adherence is lower with triple therapy (NEJM JW Gen Med May 1 2017 and Arthritis Care Res [Hoboken] 2017; 69:313). In this study of 289 RA patients who had completed a 48-week double-blind trial of triple therapy versus methotrexate/etanercept, researchers assessed the durability of adherence to therapy during an additional open-label follow-up…