Characteristics of the studies included in the current review.

➔ = switch to next treatment in case of an inadequate response, ABT = abatacept, ADA = adalimumab, ANA = anakinra, AZA = azathioprine, bDMARD = biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, CADTH = Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, cDMARD = conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, CER = certolizumab pegol, CS = corticosteroids, CSA = cyclosporin A, DAS28 = Disease Activity Score 28, D-PEN = D-Penicillin, EQ-5D = EuroQol-5D, ETN = etanercept, GOL = golimumab, GST = Gold, HAQ = Health Assessment Questionnaire, HCQ = hydroxychloroquine, HUI-2 = Health Utility Index 2, HUI-3 = Health utility Index 3, ICER = Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, IFX = infliximab, LEF = leflunomide, MTC = mixed-treatment comparison, MTX = methotrexate, NSAID = non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, QALY = quality-adjusted life year, QoL = quality of life, RA = rheumatoid arthritis, RCT = randomized controlled trial, RTX = rituximab, SF-6D = Short Form 6D, SSZ = sulfasalazine, TNFi = TNF inhibitor, TOC = tocilizumab, TTO = Time Trade-off, UK NHS = The National Health Service of the United Kingdom, VAS = the Visual Analogue Scale,*People and society tend to value present costs and benefits more than future ones. This is taken into account by discounting future costs and benefits with a predefined rate.Characteristics of the studies included in the current review.