Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD)
| Academic Lead: | Professor Rachelle Buchbinder Director, Monash-Cabrini Department of Musculoskeletal Health and Clinical Epidemiology |
| Clinical Leads: |
Professor Rachelle Buchbinder, Rheumatology Professor Lyn March, Rheumatology Professor Marissa Lassere, Rheumatology Professor Catherine Hill, Rheumatology |
| Registry contact: | Email: arad@monash.edu |
| Purpose / aims: | The Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD) was established as a national arthritis database to provide valid and reliable longitudinal clinical data of people with inflammatory arthritis in Australia, with the ultimate aim of providing better care and improving outcomes for patients. The aims of ARAD were to establish a specific cohort of Australian patients with inflammatory arthritis receiving anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and other biological disease modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) therapies together with a group of patients not receiving bDMARDs to determine long-term safety and effectiveness of the biological therapies. It became operational in August 2003. The database is owned by the Australian Rheumatology Association. |
| Population captured: | Patients with inflammatory arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis have been enrolled in this voluntary registry. ARAD ceased enrolment in 2021 and is no longer recruiting participants. |
| Outcomes collected: | The ARAD collects information from patients at 6 to 12 monthly intervals via paper-based and online questionnaires about medical history, medication history, responses to medication, physical functioning and quality of life. We also perform linkages to MBS and PBS data and state and national cancer and death registries. |
| Funding source: | NHMRC Enabling Grant (2006 to 2012), unrestricted pharmaceutical company educational grants to the Australian Rheumatology Association and in kind support from Cabrini Institute, Monash University and University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital. |
| Year established: | 2001 |
| Website: | arad.org.au |