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New research · Rheumatology
The Journal of rheumatology · 21h
Cohort studyThe Journal of rheumatology · 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
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RheumatologyCohort study

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 · 2026
Background

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.

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.

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