scholarly journals EP01 Audit of the monitoring and documentation of DAS28 score in patients prescribed high cost DMARDs for rheumatoid arthritis every 6 months according to British Society for Rheumatology guidelines

Rheumatology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin F. W Tsoi ◽  
Amit Sahni ◽  
Bianka Selvanayagam ◽  
Muhammad Memon

Abstract Background DAS28 is a measure of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) which is comprised of the number of tender and swollen joints, inflammatory markers and visual analogue score. Both NICE and British Society of Rheumatology recommend DAS28 is recorded at least every 6 months in patients with RA, to monitor disease activity and ensure adequate response to treatment. CCG mandate 6 monthly DAS28 scores for patients on high cost DMARDs in order to secure funding. Absence of DAS28 scores results in CCGs refusing to fund treatment at the expense of the Trust. Methods Our aim was to review whether a DAS28 was documented in every consultation and if it meets the audit standard of a review every 6 months. If the 6 month target is not met, to understand the reason for this and to suggest ways to meet the standard. Blueteq is the software used to identify all patients with a diagnosis of RA between January 2014 and January 2019 at Royal Surrey County Hospital (RSCH). Clinic letters were reviewed to identify whether a DAS28 score was recorded, the date it was recorded and whether this was done within 6 months. Results In total, 207 patients are prescribed high cost DMARDs for RA at RSCH. 166 (80%) patients have a documented DAS28, but 41 (20%) patients did not have a documented DAS28. 14 (7%) patients have a documented DAS28 at least 6 monthly. 152 (73%) patients did not meet the audit standard. Conclusion Documentation of DAS28 in clinic letters at RSCH does not meet the audit standard. However, these scores have been recorded on Blueteq in order to satisfy CCG requirements. There needs to be consistency in where DAS28 is recorded. Factors contributing to an absence of a documented DAS28 in clinic letters include: no recent inflammatory markers, patients not receiving clinic appointments scheduled at the correct interval, patients not attending clinic, limited follow-up clinic capacity. DAS28 documentation can be improved by incorporating a table into each rheumatology clinic letter template. On initiation of a high cost therapy, the importance of regular blood monitoring and clinic attendance should be reiterated to patients as well as to the appointments booking team. An early arthritis pathway already exists, which can be extended to incorporate a high cost DMARD pathway detailing how to achieve target documentation. Disclosures: K.F.W. Tsoi: None. A. Sahni: None. B. Selvanayagam: None. M. Memon: None.

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 583-583
Author(s):  
C. Garufi ◽  
F. Ceccarelli ◽  
F. R. Spinelli ◽  
S. Mancuso ◽  
C. Pirone ◽  
...  

Background:In the management of chronic arthritis, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Ultrasound (US) assessment can provide relevant information about the joint inflammatory status in the diagnostic phase and even more in the monitoring of disease activity and structural damage1,2.Objectives:In this longitudinal study, we aimed to assesse the role of US in predicting the efficacy of JAK-inhibitors (JAKi) in RA patients.Methods:We enrolled RA patients starting baricitinib or tofacitinib. All patients were evaluated at baseline and after 4, 12, 24, 48 weeks. Disease activity was calculated by DAS28CRP. US examination in 22 joints (I–V MCPs and PIPs, wrists) aimed at evaluating inflammatory features (synovial effusion and hypertrophy, power Doppler-PD), through a semi-quantitative scale (0-3). The total US (0-198) and PD (0-66) scores were calculated. We scanned bilateral flexor (I–V fingers of hands) and extensor compartments (1-6) tendons: tenosynovitis was scored as absent/present (0/1), resulting in a total score (0-22).Results:We studied 102 patients (M/F 15/87; median age 59.2 years, IQR 17.75; median disease duration 144 months, IQR 126), 61 treated with baricitinib and 41 with tofacitinib. At baseline, the median total US score was 18 (IQR 19) and the median PD score 2 (4). We observed a significant reduction in both total and PD US scores at all time-points (p<0.0001) (Figure 1). At baseline, 75.4% of patients showed tenosynovitis involving at least one tendon, with a median score of 2 (IQR 3.5) significantly decreasing after 24 weeks (p=0.02). Multivariate analysis, adjusted for baseline DAS28CRP and other concomitant treatments (including glucocorticoids and methotrexate treatment), confirmed the independent association between baseline US (PD and tenosynovitis) scores and the reduction of disease activity at follow-up evaluations.Conclusion:The present study confirmed the early efficacy of JAKi in RA patients by using US evaluation. Furthermore, power doppler and tenosynovitis scores could play a predictive role in response to treatment.References:[1]MUELLER RB, HASLER C, POPP F, et al. Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Safety of Tofacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective Analysis of Real-World Data from the St. Gallen and Aarau Cohorts. J Clin Med. 2019;8(10):1548.[2]COLEBATCH AN, EDWARDS CJ, ØSTERGAARD M, et al. EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging of the joints in the clinical management of rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2013;72(6):804-14.Figure 1.Ultrasound inflammatory score (a) and Ultrasound Power Doppler (PD) score (b) at baseline and follow-up.Table 1.Baseline characteristics of 414 RA patients.WEEKS04122448US inflammatory score18 (19)11 (15.5)9.5 (11.7)7.5 (8)6 (11)US PD score2 (4)0 (2)0 (1)0 (1)0 (0.7)Disclosure of Interests:Cristina Garufi: None declared, Fulvia Ceccarelli: None declared, Francesca Romana Spinelli Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Consultant of: Gilead/Galapagos, Eli Lilly, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Silvia Mancuso: None declared, Carmelo Pirone: None declared, Fabrizio Conti Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Pfizer, Consultant of: Gilead/Galapagos


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1474.3-1474
Author(s):  
A. Misiyuk ◽  
A. Lila ◽  
A. Gordeev ◽  
E. Galushko

Background:Objectives:To evaluate how disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) affects efficacy of tofacitinib (TOFA) therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:We analyzed the history of 107 patients (mean age 51,4±12,1 yrs) with RA according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria, from 11 regions Russian Federation, including patients who were treated at the V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology. These patients were non-responders to DMARDs, previously biologic therapy and were treated with TOFA in combination with DMARDs or without. 107 patients (77 woman (72%),tested positive for ACCP (76.5%)/RF (87.3%), the median disease duration was 7,5±6,6 years; the mean DAS28 score was 5,8±1,0, mean SDAI and CDAI score was 35,6±13,4 and 32,1±12,4 respectively) received TOFA for 12 months. TOFA therapy was started in all patients in dose 5 mg BID per os with escalation to 10 mg BID in 17,6% pts.Results:The use of TOFA was accompanied by a decrease in the disease activity after 6 and 12 months of therapy. All patients were divided into 3 groups, depending on DMARDs therapy: TOFA+ methotrexate (MTX), TOFA+ another DMARDs (leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, azathioprine), mono-therapy of TOFA. The dynamic of the disease activity in 3 groups is presenting on the table below:Table 1.AOutcome of contributory AEs/SAE at close of follow-up.BSAEs classified as ‘expected’. DLT: dose limiting toxicity; N+V: nausea, vomiting.ParametersWeeksTOFA+MTX(n=69)TOFA+ another DMARDs (n=20)TOFA monotherepy (n=18)DAS28 (ESR)baseline5,9 ±1,05,6±1,16,0±0,86 months3,5±1,2*4,1±1,1*4,2±1,6*12 months3,3±1,0*3,5±1,3*3,8±1,2*SDAIbaseline36,2±14,232,6±9,535,3± 10,36 months14,4± 10,7*16,7± 10,2*27,3±19,1*12 months9,5±8,0*12,9± 8,6*15,3±10,2*CDAIbaseline32,4±12,129,7±8,933,2±9,86 months13,3±10,2*15,6±9,8*22,4±16,8*12 months8,7±7,6*12,6±8,2*14,4±9,6**p<0,05Patients who received TOFA with MTX had lower disease activity during the therapy. Patients on mono-therapy of TOFA had higher disease activity according to DAS28, SDAI, CDAI.Conclusion:Tofacitinib is effective ts-DMARDs for active rheumatoid arthritis on the Russian population. It shows better efficacy in combination with methotrexate, than in combination with another DMARDs (leflunomide and other) or in mono-therapy.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 900.1-900
Author(s):  
L. Diebold ◽  
T. Wirth ◽  
V. Pradel ◽  
N. Balandraud ◽  
E. Fockens ◽  
...  

Background:Among therapeutics used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Tocilizumab (TCZ) and Abatacept (ABA) are both biologic agents that can be delivered subcutaneously (SC) or intravenously (IV). During the first COVID-19 lockdown in France, all patients treated with IV TCZ or IV ABA were offered the option to switch to SC administration.Objectives:The primary aim was to assess the impact of changing the route of administration on the disease activity. The second aim was to assess whether the return to IV route at the patient’s request was associated with disease activity variation, flares, anxiety, depression and low physical activity during the lockdown.Methods:We conducted a prospective monocentric observational study. Eligibility criteria: Adult ≥ 18 years old, RA treated with IV TCZ or IV ABA with a stable dose ≥3 months, change in administration route (from IV to SC) between March 16, 2020, and April 17, 2020. The following data were collected at baseline and 6 months later (M6): demographics, RA characteristics, treatment, history of previous SC treatment, disease activity (DAS28), self-administered questionnaires on flares, RA life repercussions, physical activity, anxiety and depression (FLARE, RAID, Ricci &Gagnon, HAD).The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a DAS28 variation>1.2 at M6. Analyses: Chi2-test for quantitative variables and Mann-Whitney test for qualitative variables. Factors associated with return to IV route identification was performed with univariate and multivariate analysis.Results:Among the 84 patients who were offered to switch their treatment route of administration, 13 refused to change their treatment. Among the 71 who switched (48 TCZ, 23 ABA), 58 had a M6 follow-up visit (13 lost of follow-up) and DAS28 was available for 49 patients at M6. Main baseline characteristics: female 81%, mean age 62.7, mean disease duration: 16.0, ACPA positive: 72.4%, mean DAS28: 2.01, previously treated with SC TCZ or ABA: 17%.At M6, the mean DAS28 variation was 0.18 ± 0.15. Ten (12.2%) patients had a DAS28 worsening>1.2 (ABA: 5/17 [29.4%] and TCZ: 5/32 [15.6%], p= 0.152) and 19 patients (32.8%) had a DAS28 worsening>0.6 (ABA: 11/17 [64.7%] and TCZ: 8/32 [25.0%], p= 0.007).At M6, 41 patients (77.4%) were back to IV route (26 TCZ, 15 ABA) at their request. The proportion of patients with a DAS28 worsening>1.2 and>0.6 in the groups return to IV versus SC maintenance were 22.5%, 42.5% versus 11.1% and 22.2% (p=0.4), respectively. The univariate analysis identified the following factors associated with the return to IV route: HAD depression score (12 vs 41, p=0.009), HAS anxiety score (12 vs 41, p=0.047) and corticosteroid use (70% vs 100%, p=0.021), in the SC maintenance vs return to IV, respectively.Conclusion:The change of administration route of TCZ and ABA during the first COVID-19 lockdown was infrequently associated with a worsening of RA disease. However, the great majority of the patients (77.4%) request to return to IV route, even without disease activity worsening. This nocebo effect was associated with higher anxiety and depression scores.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1463.2-1464
Author(s):  
S. Bayat ◽  
K. Tascilar ◽  
V. Kaufmann ◽  
A. Kleyer ◽  
D. Simon ◽  
...  

Background:Recent developments of targeted treatments such as targeted synthetic DMARDs (tsDMARDs) increase the chances of a sustained low disease activity (LDA) or remission state for patients suffering rheumatoid arthritis (RA). tsDMARDs such as baricitinib, an oral inhibitor of the Janus Kinases (JAK1/JAK2) was recently approved for the treatment of RA with an inadequate response to conventional (cDMARD) and biological (bDMARD) therapy. (1, 2).Objectives:Aim of this study is to analyze the effect of baricitinb on disease activity (DAS28, LDA) in patients with RA in real life, to analyze drug persistance and associate these effects with various baseline characteristics.Methods:All RA patients were seen in our outpatient clinic. If a patient was switched to a baricitinib due to medical reasons, these patients were included in our prospective, observational study which started in April 2017. Clinical scores (SJC/TJC 76/78), composite scores (DAS28), PROs (HAQ-DI; RAID; FACIT), safety parameters (not reported in this abstract) as well as laboratory biomarkers were collected at each visit every three months. Linear mixed effects models for repeated measurements were used to analyze the time course of disease activity, patient reported outcomes and laboratory results. We estimated the probabilities of continued baricitinib treatment and the probabilities of LDA and remission by DAS-28 as well as Boolean remission up to one year using survival analysis and explored their association with disease characteristics using multivariable Cox regression. All patients gave informed consent. The study is approved by the local ethics.Results:95 patients were included and 85 analyzed with available follow-up data until November 2019. Demographics are shown in table 1. Mean follow-up duration after starting baricitinib was 49.3 (28.9) weeks. 51 patients (60%) were on monotherapy. Baricitinib survival (95%CI) was 82% (73% to 91%) at one year. Cumulative number (%probability, 95%CI) of patients that attained DAS-28 LDA at least once up to one year was 67 (92%, 80% to 97%) and the number of patients attaining DAS-28 and Boolean remission were 31 (50%, 34% to 61%) and 12(20%, 9% to 30%) respectively. Median time to DAS-28 LDA was 16 weeks (Figure 1). Cox regression analyses did not show any sufficiently precise association of remission or LDA with age, gender, seropositivity, disease duration, concomitant DMARD use and number of previous bDMARDs. Increasing number of previous bDMARDs was associated with poor baricitinib survival (HR=1.5, 95%CI 1.1 to 2.2) while this association was not robust to adjustment for baseline disease activity. Favorable changes were observed in tender and swollen joint counts, pain-VAS, patient and physician disease assessment scores, RAID, FACIT and the acute phase response.Conclusion:In this prospective observational study, we observed high rates of LDA and DAS-28 remission and significant improvements in disease activity and patient reported outcome measurements over time.References:[1]Keystone EC, Taylor PC, Drescher E, Schlichting DE, Beattie SD, Berclaz PY, et al. Safety and efficacy of baricitinib at 24 weeks in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to methotrexate. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2015 Feb;74(2):333-40.[2]Genovese MC, Kremer J, Zamani O, Ludivico C, Krogulec M, Xie L, et al. Baricitinib in Patients with Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis. The New England journal of medicine. 2016 Mar 31;374(13):1243-52.Figure 1.Cumulative probability of low disease activity or remission under treatment with baricitinib.Disclosure of Interests:Sara Bayat Speakers bureau: Novartis, Koray Tascilar: None declared, Veronica Kaufmann: None declared, Arnd Kleyer Consultant of: Lilly, Gilead, Novartis,Abbvie, Speakers bureau: Novartis, Lilly, David Simon Grant/research support from: Else Kröner-Memorial Scholarship, Novartis, Consultant of: Novartis, Lilly, Johannes Knitza Grant/research support from: Research Grant: Novartis, Fabian Hartmann: None declared, Susanne Adam: None declared, Axel Hueber Grant/research support from: Novartis, Lilly, Pfizer, EIT Health, EU-IMI, DFG, Universität Erlangen (EFI), Consultant of: Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Gilead, GSK, Lilly, Novartis, Speakers bureau: GSK, Lilly, Novartis, Georg Schett Speakers bureau: AbbVie, BMS, Celgene, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Roche and UCB


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 625.2-626
Author(s):  
H. Gerasimova ◽  
T. Popkova ◽  
I. Kirillova ◽  
M. Cherkasova ◽  
A. Martynova ◽  
...  

Background:N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a recognized predictor of congestive heart failure (CHF) and cardiovascular death. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (pts) were shown to have higher NT-proBNP concentrations than in general population, but it remains unclear, whether NT-proBNP levels are related to RA duration, activity or treatment.Objectives:To investigate the effect of interleukin 6 receptor inhibitor - tocilizumab (TCZ) and JAK inhibitor - tofacitinib (TOFA) on NT-proBNP levels in RA pts during a 12-month (m) follow-up period.Methods:The study enrolled 60pts (50women/10men) with the lack of efficacy/resistance and/or intolerance of basic anti-inflammatory drugs (DMARDs); median age was 55[42;61] years, median disease duration 55[29;120]m, with moderate to high activity (DAS28-5,1[4,6;6,1], serum positivity for rheumatoid factor (RF)(85%)/ anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACCP)(80%). The study did not include RA pts with CHF and clinically overt cardiovascular disease (CVD). Twenty nine RA pts received TCZ(8mg/kg) every 4 weeks: 61% received TCZ in combination with methotrexate (MTX), 35% - with low-dose glucocorticoids (GCs). Thirty one RA pts were prescribed oral TOFA at 5 mg BID with dose escalation to 10 mg BID in 8 (26%)pts. TOFA was used in combination with MTX in 90% pts, with GCs – in 29% pts. Pts treated with TCZ and TOFA were comparable in terms of age, sex, body mass index. RA activity rates (DAS28, SDAI, ESR, CRP) were higher in pts on TCZ -therapy compared with pts treated with TOFA. Echocardiography data and NT-proBNP levels using electrochemiluminescence method Elecsys proBNP II (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland) were obtained at baseline and after 12m.Results:Significant positive changes in major disease activity, clinical and laboratory parameters were found in RA pts after 12 m of TCZ infusion and TOFA intake: remission (DAS28<2,6) was achieved in 54% and 39% pts, low activity levels (DAS28<3,2) – in 46% and 51% pts, respectively.The NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in RA pts than in the control group (median 69,1 (37,9;105,8) pg/mL vs 55,3 (36,6;67,3) pg/mL,p<0.05).Six pts (10%) (three in each pts group) had NT-proBNP levels over 125pg/ml, but were asymptomatic and had unremarkable echocardiography.There was a good correlation between NT-proBNP level at baseline with age (r=0,55,p<0,001), SDAI (r=0,5, h=0,01), ACCP (r=0,23,p=0,01).Decrease of median NT-proBNP levels was documented after 12m of TCZ therapy (81,5[43,0;102,0]vs41,6[25,4;64,2]pg/ml (p<0,01) and after 12m TOFA therapy (66,1[30,5;105,0]vs16,8 [5,0;81,0]pg/ml,p=0,001).After 12m of TCZ correlations of ΔNT-proBNP were established with ΔESR (R=0,43;p<0,05], ΔСRP (R=0,46;p<0,05], ΔEe left ventricle (LV) (r=0,88,p=0,03).In the group of pts treated with TOFA ΔNT-proBNP level significantly correlated with the percentage change in DAS 28 (r=0,41,p=0,038), there was no direct correlation with changes in the parameters of the LV diastolic function.Conclusion:TCZ and TOFA treatment for 12 m reduced NT-proBNP levels in RA pts without clinically manifest CVD and CHF. Falling NT-proBNP concentrations are associated with positive dynamics of RA activity (DAS 28) and inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR), therefore allowing to suggest that increased NT-proBNP levels should be considered as a component of disease activity. Correlation between ΔNT-proBNP and ΔEeLF may be indicative as possible impact of these biomarkers on the LV diastolic function’s development in RA pts.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 23.2-24
Author(s):  
V. Molander ◽  
H. Bower ◽  
J. Askling

Background:Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) (1). Several established risk factors of VTE, such as age, immobilization and comorbid conditions, occur more often patients with RA (2). In addition, inflammation may in itself also increase VTE risk by upregulating procoagolatory factors and causing endothelial damage (3). Recent reports indicate an increased risk of VTE in RA patients treated with JAK-inhibitors (4), pointing to the need to better understand how inflammation measured as clinical RA disease activity influences VTE risk.Objectives:To investigate the relationship between clinical RA disease activity and incidence of VTE.Methods:Patients with RA were identified from the Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register (SRQ) between July 1st2006 and December 31st2017. Clinical rheumatology data for these patients were obtained from the visits recorded in SRQ, and linked to national registers capturing data on VTE events and comorbid conditions. For each such rheumatologist visit, we defined a one-year period after the visit and determined whether a VTE event had occurred within this period or not. A visit followed by a VTE event was categorized as a case, all other visits were used as controls. Each patient could contribute to several visits. The DAS28 score registered at the visit was stratified into remission (0-2.5) vs. low (2.6-3.1), moderate (3.2-5.1) and high (>5.1) disease activity. Logistic regression with robust cluster standard errors was used to estimate the association between the DAS28 score and VTE.Results:We identified 46,311 patients with RA who contributed data from 320,094 visits. Among these, 2,257 visits (0.7% of all visits) in 1345 unique individuals were followed by a VTE within the one-year window. Of these, 1391 were DVT events and 866 were PE events. Figure 1 displays the absolute probabilities of a VTE in this one-year window, and odds ratios for VTE by each DAS28 category, using DAS28 remission as reference. The one-year risk of a VTE increased from 0.5% in patients in DAS28 remission, to 1.1% in patients with DAS28 high disease activity (DAS28 above 5.1). The age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio for a VTE event in highly active RA compared to RA in remission was 2.12 (95% CI 1.80-2.47). A different analysis, in which each patient could only contribute to one visit, yielded similar results.Figure 1.Odds ratios (OR) comparing the odds of VTE for DAS28 activity categories versus remission. Grey estimates are from unadjusted logistic regression models, black estimates are from logistic regression models adjusted for age and sex. Absolute one-year risk of VTE are estimated from unadjusted models.Conclusion:This study demonstrates a strong association between clinical RA inflammatory activity as measured through DAS28 and risk of VTE. Among patients with high disease activity one in a hundred will develop a VTE within the coming year. These findings highlight the need for proper VTE risk assessment in patients with active RA, and confirm that patients with highly active RA, such as those recruited to trials for treatment with new drugs, are already at particularly elevated risk of VTE.References:[1]Holmqvist et al. Risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and association with disease duration and hospitalization. JAMA. 2012;308(13):1350-6.[2]Cushman M. Epidemiology and risk factors for venous thrombosis. Semin Hematol. 2007;44(2):62-9.[3]Xu J et al. Inflammation, innate immunity and blood coagulation. Hamostaseologie. 2010;30(1):5-6, 8-9.[4]FDA. Safety trial finds risk of blood clots in the lungs and death with higher dose of tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR) in rheumatoid arthritis patients; FDA to investigate. 2019.Acknowledgments:Many thanks to all patients and rheumatologists persistently filling out the SRQ.Disclosure of Interests:Viktor Molander: None declared, Hannah Bower: None declared, Johan Askling Grant/research support from: JA acts or has acted as PI for agreements between Karolinska Institutet and the following entities, mainly in the context of the ARTIS national safety monitoring programme of immunomodulators in rheumatology: Abbvie, BMS, Eli Lilly, Merck, MSD, Pfizer, Roche, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi, and UCB Pharma


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 492.2-492
Author(s):  
K. Mandai ◽  
M. Tada ◽  
Y. Yamada ◽  
T. Koike ◽  
T. Okano ◽  
...  

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have a high frequency of sarcopenia, and they commonly have reduced physical function. We previously reported that the prevalence of sarcopenia was 28%, that of frailty was 18.9%, and that of pre-frailty was 38.9% in RA patients1,2, and 13.2% of RA patients developed sarcopenia within a year 3.Objectives:To investigate the risk factors for new onset of sarcopenia, locomotive syndrome, and frailty in patients with RA and the course of each disease.Methods:Two-year follow-up data from the rural group of the prospective, observational CHIKARA study were used. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2014, locomotive syndrome was diagnosed using locomotive 5, and frailty was diagnosed using the basic checklist. New onset of the disease over the 2-year follow-up period was studied, excluding cases that had the disease at baseline. Improvement was defined as cases with disease at baseline that no longer met the diagnostic criteria after 2 years. Differences in the characteristics of each disease were tested using the Chi-squared test and the paired t-test.Results:The 81 patients with RA (82.7% female) had mean age 66.9±11.5 years, mean DAS28-ESR 2.9±1.2, methotrexate use in 81.5% (with a dose of 9.9±2.7 mg/week), and glucocorticoid (GC) use in 22.2% (with a dose of 3.1±1.7 mg/week). The baseline prevalence was 44.4% for sarcopenia, 35.8% for locomotive syndrome, and 25.9% for frailty, and the new onset rate was 4.4% for sarcopenia, 15.4% for locomotive syndrome, and 13.3% for frailty. Of the patients with each disease at baseline, 36.1% had sarcopenia, 20.7% had locomotive syndrome, and 33.3% had frailty, and of those with each disease at 2 years, 36.1% had sarcopenia, 20.7% had locomotive syndrome, and 33.3% had frailty. The new onset sarcopenia and locomotive syndrome groups had significantly higher rates of GC use (p=0.036, p=0.007, paired t-test) and significantly higher doses (p=0.01, p=0.001, paired t-test) than the groups without new onset sarcopenia and locomotive syndrome. High baseline disease activity was an independent predictor of new onset of locomotive syndrome on multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR=3.21, p=0.015).Conclusion:The new onset rates at 2 years were 4.4% for sarcopenia, 15.4% for locomotive syndrome, and 13.3% for frailty. In the new onset sarcopenia and locomotive syndrome groups, both GC use and dosage were significantly higher.References:[1]Tada M, et al. Matrix metalloprotease 3 is associated with sarcopenia in rheumatoid arthritis - results from the CHIKARA study. Int J Rheum Dis. 2018 Nov;21(11):1962-1969.[2]Tada M, et al. Correlation between frailty and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Data from the CHIKARA study. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2019 Dec;19(12):1220-1225.[3]Yamada Y, et al. Glucocorticoid use is an independent risk factor for developing sarcopenia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: from the CHIKARA study. Clin Rheumatol. 2020 Jun;39(6):1757-1764.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1848.2-1849
Author(s):  
M. A. Mortada ◽  
H. Eitta ◽  
R. Elmallah ◽  
A. Radwan ◽  
A. Elsaman

Background:Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography (MSUS) is now a widely used tool for monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although there are many proposed sets of composite scores, a fixed set of joints may not be an ideal tool to assess a disease like RA, which affects many joints and tendons in different presentations. In previous study (1) U9 score was proven to be correlated with disease activity parameters.Objectives:To determine whether US assessment using U9 score is useful for monitoring response to treatment for RA or not?Methods:A prospective, multicenter study were conducted in period from July 2019 to December 2019. All recruited RA patients were subjected to: Disease activity assessment by clinical disease activity indices (CDAI and DAS28 ESR). Functional status assessment by (HAQ) and ultrasonographic assessment using U9 score which include 8 joints (bilateral wrists,2ndMCP,3RDMCP and knees) plus most clinically affected joint or tendon (one joint or one tendon). Most clinically affected joints from 48 joints. Any affected tendons could be choosing. All targeted joints were evaluated according to EULAR guidlines and by EULAR/ OMERACT combined score (0-3). Targeted tendons were scored (0-3).All patients received their treatment (biologic and non biologic DMARDs) according to the decision of the treating physicians. No specific therapy is needed. CDAI and DAS28 ESR, HAQ and U9 score were repeated after 3 months to detect the response to change after receiving the therapy.Results:One hundred and forty patients (23.6% were male) with mean age 39.26±11.30 were recruited from 4 tertiary referral university hospitals.There was a significant difference (<0.001) between the first and second visits as regards clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic parameters. DAS 28 decreased form (5.29±1.21) to (3.95±0.99), ESR decreased from (42.12±15.24) to (26.84±12.32), HAQ2 improved from (0.652±0.350) to (0.510±0.237) and U9 total US score decreased from (13.56±5.18) to (8.02±4.28).There was significant correlation between U9 ultrasonographic score and clinical parameters at both visits (table 1).Table 1.correlation between U9 ultrasonographic score and clinical parameters.U9 at 1stvisitU9 at 2ndvisitDAS-28Pearson Correlation(P value)0.806<0.0010.790<0.001CDAIPearson Correlation(P value)0.787<0.0010.773<0.001HAQPearson Correlation(P value)0.431<0.0010.317<0.001We found that the most suitable cut-off value of U9 score to predict high disease activity was 11.5 (sensitivity 85.7% and specificity 80.6%), cut off value for moderate disease activity was 5.5(sensitivity 83.2% and specificity 88%) and cut off value for low disease activity was 3.5 (sensitivity of 83.3% and specificity 57.1%). These results are summarized in the following table:Conclusion:U9 ultrasonographic score is very useful method for evaluating the monitoring the response of treatment.References:[1]Mortada, et al. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2019;78:1009.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document