Traditionally Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids and immunosuppressants have been used for rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, biological agents with a mechanism of action targeting the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis have emerged as an important treatment. Especially, as anti-TNF (anti-tumor necrosis factor antagonist) drugs is effective for patients who do not respond to the existing drugs. Recent studies focus on this class of drugs. Therefore, there is a need for further study to generate data to compare the efficacy of biological agents with that of the traditional DMARDs.

The objective of this study was to identify the treatment patterns of rheumatoid arthritis and to compare the effectiveness of biological agents and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). First, the study aimed to find out the grounds for drug treatment regimens containing DMRADs and anti-TNF through a systematic review of existing scientific literatures. Second, this study attempted to identify differences in efficacy between DMARDSs and anti-TNF by conducting a comparative effectiveness research (CER). And finally, this study aimed to analyze the current status of DMARDs and biological agents prescribed for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis by analyzing the claims data submitted to the National Health Insurance.