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To delineate compliance with drug therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients, determine specific characteristics of compliant and noncompliant patients, and look for changes in compliance over time.A prospective European cohort study (EURIDISS) recruited 556 patients in four countries over three years. Compliance with drug dosages and dosing times was evaluated yearly using a questionnaire.Of the 556 patients, 429 (77.2%) were on drug therapy at all three evaluation time points. Use of steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and second-line drugs varied significantly across countries. The compliance behavior was stable over time in 59.5% of them (35.7% of patients were consistently compliant and 23.8% consistently noncompliant); it was independent of disease duration and from the clinical features of the disease. Older patients and women were more likely to be compliant (odds ratios, 2.5 and 2, respectively).Compliance with drug therapy can be measured using two simple questions. Compliance is more closely dependent on individual behavior than on responses to specific features of rheumatoid arthritis.

Patient compliance is considered necessary for the success of drug treatment in chronic diseases. We document compliance with drug treatment and the factors affecting it in a cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).A prospective cohort study of 556 patients with RA followed for 3 years in 4 counties: Oslo, Norway; Groningen, The Netherlands; and Nancy and Reims, France. Compliance to treatment was assessed annually by interview in terms of adherence to the dose and timing of the prescribed drug regimen.Of the 556 subjects, 429 (77.2%) were taking medication for RA throughout the observation period. Consistent behavior was recorded in 59.5% of cases: 35.7% were consistently compliant, and 23.8% consistently noncompliant. Factors significantly associated with good compliance were older age (p = 0.00), female sex (p = 0.03), decreased disability (p = 0.04), very satisfactory contacts with health care professionals (p = 0.03), and more personal knowledge about the disease and its treatment (p = 0.03).This longitudinal study identified compliance behavior as consistent over time in 60% of patients, determined by quality of contact with professionals and the amount of patient information available.