| Summary: | This report from the RTI-University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center summarizes the evidence on the comparative efficacy, effectiveness, and harms of corticosteroids, synthetic DMARDs, and biologic DMARDs in the treatment of patients with either rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The key questions (KQs) were developed through a public process in conjunction with the Scientific Resource Center at the Oregon Health and Science University. The KQs are as follows: KQ 1. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, do drug therapies differ in their ability to reduce patient-reported symptoms, to slow or limit progression of radiographic joint damage, or to maintain remission? KQ 2. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, do drug therapies differ in their ability to improve functional capacity or quality of life? KQ 3. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, do drug therapies differ in harms, tolerability, adherence, or adverse effects? KQ 4. What are the comparative benefits and harms of drug therapies for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis in subgroups of patients based on stage of disease, history of prior therapy, demographics, concomitant therapies, or comorbidities?
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