Summary of findings table. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009(4): CD007277; with permission.
| Abatacept (2 and 10 mg/kg) + DMARD/biologic vs placebo + DMARD/biologic for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Patient or population: patients with RA Settings: International; clinic/hospital Intervention: Abatacept (2 and 10 mg/kg) + DMARD/biologic Comparison: Placebo + DMARD/biologic | ||||||
| Outcomes | Placebo + DMARD/biologic | Abatacept (2 and 10 mg/kg) + DMARD/biologic | Relative Effect (95% CI) | No. Participants (Studies) | Quality of Evidence (GRADE) | Comments (95% CI) |
| ACR 50% improvement. Followup: 12 mos | 168 per 1000 | 371 per 1000 (291–474) | RR 2.21 (1.73–2.82) | 993 (3 studies) | Moderate1,2,3 | Absolute difference = 21% (16%–27%) NNT = 5 (4–7)4 Relative percent change = 121% (73%–182%) |
| Pain measured at end of study on a 100 mm visual analog scale. Scale from 0 (better) to 100 (worse) Followup: 12 mos | Mean pain in the control group: 49.24 mm | Mean pain in the intervention group was 10.71 lower (12.97 to 8.45) | 1425 (1 study5) | Moderate2 | Absolute difference = −11% (−13% to −8.5%). NNT = 5 (4–6)4 Relative percent change = −18% (−22% to −14%). | |
| Improvement in physical function (HAQ: > 0.3 increase from baseline, 0–3 scale). Followup: 12 mos | 393 per 1000 | 637 per 1000 (531–766) | RR 1.62 (1.35–1.95) | 638 (1 study6) | Moderate1 | Absolute difference = 24% (16%–32%). NNT = 5 (4 to 7)4 Relative percent change: 62% (35%–195%). |
DMARD: disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; GRADE: Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation; ACR: American College of Rheumatology; NNT: number needed to treat; HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire.