Hydroxychloroquine prescription trends and predictors for excess dosing per recent ophthalmology guidelines

April M. Jorge*, Ronald B. Melles, Yuqing Zhang, Na Lu, Sharan K. Rai, Lucy H. Young, Karen H. Costenbader, Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman, S. Sam Lim, John M. Esdaile, Ann E. Clarke, M. B. Urowitz, Anca Askanase, Cynthia Aranow, Michelle Petri, Hyon Choi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) retinopathy may be more common than previously recognized; recent ophthalmology guidelines have revised recommendations from ideal body weight (IBW)-based dosing to actual body weight (ABW)-based dosing. However, contemporary HCQ prescribing trends in the UK remain unknown. Methods: We examined a UK general population database to investigate HCQ dosing between 2007 and 2016. We studied trends of excess HCQ dosing per ophthalmology guidelines (defined by exceeding 6.5 mg/kg of IBW and 5.0 mg/kg of ABW) and determined their independent predictors using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: Among 20,933 new HCQ users (78% female), the proportions of initial HCQ excess dosing declined from 40% to 36% using IBW and 38% to 30% using ABW, between 2007 and 2016. Among these, 47% of women were excess-dosed (multivariable OR 12.52; 95% CI 10.99-14.26) using IBW and 38% (multivariable OR 1.98; 95% CI,1.81-2.15) using ABW. Applying IBW, 37% of normal and 44% of obese patients were excess-dosed; however, applying ABW, 53% of normal and 10% of obese patients were excess-dosed (multivariable ORs = 1.61 and 0.1 (reference = normal); both p < 0.01). Long-term HCQ users showed similar excess dosing. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of HCQ users in the UK, particularly women, may have excess HCQ dosing per the previous or recent weight-based guidelines despite a modest decline in recent years. Over half of normal-BMI individuals were excess-dosed per the latest guidelines. This implies the potential need to reduce dosing for many patients but also calls for further research to establish unifying evidence-based safe and effective dosing strategies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number133
JournalArthritis Research and Therapy
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 5 2018

Funding

This project was supported in part by the Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award T32-AR-007258, National Institutes of Health NIH Grant P60-AR-047785. Preliminary findings from our research have been presented at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting. This project was supported in part by the Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award T32-AR-007258, National Institutes of Health NIH Grant P60-AR-047785.

Keywords

  • DMARDs
  • Epidemiology
  • Quality of care
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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