Understanding the impact of meeting performance measures on the outcomes of joint replacement in rheumatoid…

Cohort studyThe Journal of rheumatology· Aug 2026

Understanding the impact of meeting performance measures on the outcomes of joint replacement in rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based study in British Columbia, Canada.

Claire E H Barber, Hui Xie, Yufei Zheng … Diane Lacaille

RheumatologyCohort studyClinical practiceQ2IF 1.9

Annual disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy was associated with a slightly higher 10-year risk of total joint replacement.

Understanding the impact of meeting performance measures on the outcomes of joint replacement in rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based study in British Columbia, Canada.

Claire E H Barber … Diane Lacaille

The Journal of rheumatology · Aug 2026

Purpose

Canadian performance measures (performance measures) evaluate the quality of rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis) care; however limited evidence exists linking these process measures to long-term patient outcomes.

Methods

This was a retrospective propensity-score matched population-based cohort study in people with rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed between 2000 and 2008 who were followed until 2019.

n = 19,765 individuals

Results

annual rheumatoid arthritis medication was linked to a slightly higher 10-year risk of joint replacement

HR 1.19 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.37)

null 1

1.03

1.37

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

Among 19,765 individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, 44.78% had access to a rheumatologist within one year of diagnosis; 24.91% were retained in care, while only 24.30% were dispensed a DMARD within 30 days, and 32.66% received a DMARD annually for the first 2 years.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

There were deficits in rheumatoid arthritis care identified at a population-level; however, no clear protective effect of adherence to performance measures was found.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Future measure development efforts should focus on measures with a greater impact on patient outcomes.

Understanding the impact of meeting performance measures on the outcomes of joint replacement in rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based study in British Columbia, Canada.

Understanding the impact of meeting performance measures on the outcomes of joint replacement in rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based study in British Columbia, Canada.

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