Cluster analysis of longitudinal treatment patterns in patients newly diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus in the United States

Table 1 Longitudinal treatment patterns according to primary treatment by specialist or PCP

Cluster	Interpretation	Treated primarily by specialists^a		Treated primarily by PCPs^a
		n	%	n	%
1	Not actively treated throughout (<0.05 (mean) annual prescriptions)	216	26.2	815	64.6
2	CS only: high number of prescriptions (chronic use)	29	3.5	13	1.0
3	CS only: moderate number of prescriptions with slow reduction	85	10.3	92	7.3
4	HCQ only: high number of prescriptions (chronic use)	102	12.4	56	4.4
5	HCQ only: moderate number of prescriptions (chronic use)	136	16.5	134	10.6
6	HCQ only: poor adherence	111	13.5	67	5.3
7	CS plus HCQ: high number of prescriptions (chronic use)	32	3.9	24	1.9
8	CS plus HCQ: poor adherence	51	6.2	31	2.5
9	Methotrexate: moderate number of prescriptions plus some prescriptions for CS and HCQ	34	4.1	20	1.6
10	Azathioprine: moderate number of prescriptions plus some prescriptions for CS and HCQ	28	3.4	10	0.8
Total		824	100.0	1262	100.0

^aPatients who visited a specialist (including a rheumatologist, dermatologist, nephrologist, ophthalmologist, or oncologist) in >50% of SLE-related office visits were defined as primarily seen by specialists. Patients who visited PCPs in >50% of SLE-related office visits were defined as primarily seen by PCPs. The difference in treatment patterns between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.0001).

ISSN: 1478-6362