Corticosteroids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Utility measurements for evaluating risks and benefits

The purpose of this study was to use the utility approach to evaluate the risks and benefits of corticosteroid therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The utility approach provides us with a quantitative measure of the value or preference a patient attaches to his overall health status defined on a scale from perfect health (1) to death (0). Benefits and toxicity are combined into a number reflecting the patients combined assessment of the …