Predicting achievement of the treatment targets at 6 months from 3-month response levels in rheumatoid arthritis: data from real-life follow-up in the NOR-DMARD study

ObjectiveWhen initiating a new therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), current treatment recommendations suggest escalating therapy in case of poor clinical improvement by 3 months or if the treatment target has not been reached by 6 months. We investigated which disease activity improvement levels at 3 months predicted achievement of the treatment targets at 6 months in a real-life clinical setting.MethodsWe included 1610 patients with RA enrolled in the NOR-DMARD study between 2000 and 2012. Analyses were performed for the total group of patients and repeated for subgroups stratified by baseline disease activity, disease duration or treatment with methotrexate or a tumour necrosis factor inhibitor. We used a diagnostic test approach to explore the associations between 3-month response and 6-month outcome.ResultsNot achieving 50% improvement in Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) by 3 months significantly decreased the likelihood of reaching remission at 6 months in all subgroups (negative likelihood ratios (LRs−) 0.15–0.36). Patients with high disease activity when initiating treatment were likely to fail reaching remission if they achieved less than SDAI 70% response by 3 months (LR− 0.25 and negative predictive value 0.98). Achieving a major response (SDAI 85%) at 3 months significantly increased the likelihood of reaching remission at 6 months (LRs+ 6.56).ConclusionLevels of 3-month disease activity improvement can inform clinicians when deciding to continue or adjust ongoing therapy in a treat-to-target strategy aiming for remission or low disease activity within 6 months. The required levels of 3-month improvement varied with baseline disease activity.

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Do Poor Prognostic Factors in Rheumatoid Arthritis Affect Treatment Choices and Outcomes? Analysis of a US Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.171050 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 45 (10) ◽

pp. 1353-1360 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Evo Alemao ◽

Heather J. Litman ◽

Sean E. Connolly ◽

Sheila Kelly ◽

Winnie Hua ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Prognostic Factors ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Activity Index ◽

Functional Limitation ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Treat To Target ◽

Work Status ◽

Logistic Regression Models

Objective.To characterize patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by number of poor prognostic factors (PPF: functional limitation, extraarticular disease, seropositivity, erosions) and evaluate treatment acceleration, clinical outcomes, and work status over 12 months by number of PPF.Methods.Using the Corrona RA registry (January 2005–December 2015), biologic-naive patients with diagnosed RA having 12-month (± 3 mos) followup were identified and categorized by PPF (0–1, 2, ≥ 3). Changes in medication, Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and work status (baseline–12 mos) were evaluated using linear and logistic regression models.Results.There were 3458 patients who met the selection criteria: 1489 (43.1%), 1214 (35.1%), and 755 (21.8%) had 0–1, 2, or ≥ 3 PPF, respectively. At baseline, patients with ≥ 3 PPF were older, and had longer RA duration and higher CDAI versus those with 0–1 PPF. In 0–1, 2, and ≥ 3 PPF groups, respectively, 20.9%, 23.2%, and 26.5% of patients received ≥ 1 biologic (p = 0.011). Biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (tsDMARD) use was similar in patients with/without PPF (p = 0.57). After adjusting for baseline CDAI, mean (standard error) change in CDAI was −4.95 (0.24), −4.53 (0.27), and −2.52 (0.34) for 0–1, 2, and ≥ 3 PPF groups, respectively. More patients were working at baseline but not at 12-month followup in 2 (13.9%) and ≥ 3 (12.5%) versus 0–1 (7.3%) PPF group.Conclusion.Despite high disease activity and worse clinical outcomes, number of PPF did not significantly predict biologic/tsDMARD use. This may warrant reconsideration of the importance of PPF in treat-to-target approaches.

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Switching between Janus kinase inhibitor upadacitinib and adalimumab following insufficient response: efficacy and safety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-218412 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. annrheumdis-2020-218412

Author(s):

Roy M Fleischmann ◽

Ricardo Blanco ◽

Stephen Hall ◽

Glen T D Thomson ◽

Filip E Van den Bosch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Kinase Inhibitor ◽

Activity Index ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Initial Therapy ◽

Janus Kinase ◽

Treat To Target ◽

Efficacy And Safety ◽

Insufficient Response

ObjectivesTo evaluate efficacy and safety of immediate switch from upadacitinib to adalimumab, or vice versa, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with non-response or incomplete-response to the initial therapy.MethodsSELECT-COMPARE randomised patients to upadacitinib 15 mg once daily (n=651), placebo (n=651) or adalimumab 40 mg every other week (n=327). A treat-to-target study design was implemented, with blinded rescue occurring prior to week 26 for patients who did not achieve at least 20% improvement in both tender and swollen joint counts (‘non-responders’) and at week 26 based on Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) >10 (‘incomplete-responders’) without washout.ResultsA total of 39% (252/651) and 49% (159/327) of patients originally randomised to upadacitinib and adalimumab were rescued to the alternate therapy. In both switch groups (adalimumab to upadacitinib and vice versa) and in non-responders and incomplete-responders, improvements in disease activity were observed at 3 and 6 months following rescue. CDAI low disease activity was achieved by 36% and 47% of non-responders and 45% and 58% of incomplete-responders switched to adalimumab and upadacitinib, respectively, 6 months following switch. Overall, approximately 5% of rescued patients experienced worsening in disease activity at 6 months postswitch. The frequency of adverse events was similar between switch groups.ConclusionsThese observations support a treat-to-target strategy, in which patients who fail to respond initially (or do not achieve sufficient response) are switched to a therapy with an alternate mechanism of action and experience improved outcomes. No new safety findings were observed despite immediate switch without washout.

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Clinical and ultrasound remission after 6 months of treat-to-target therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: associations to future good radiographic and physical outcomes

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212830 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 77 (10) ◽

pp. 1421-1425 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Nina Paulshus Sundlisæter ◽

Anna-Birgitte Aga ◽

Inge Christoffer Olsen ◽

Hilde Berner Hammer ◽

Till Uhlig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Disease Activity Score ◽

Radiographic Progression ◽

Activity Index ◽

Power Doppler ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Treat To Target ◽

Good Outcome ◽

Grey Scale

ObjectiveTo explore associations between remission, based on clinical and ultrasound definitions, and future good radiographic and physical outcome in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsNewly diagnosed patients with RA followed a treat-to-target strategy incorporating ultrasound information in the Aiming for Remission in rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised trial examining the benefit of ultrasound in a Clinical TIght Control regimen (ARCTIC) trial. We defined 6-month remission according to Disease Activity Score, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints-erythrocyte sedimentation rate, American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) Boolean criteria, Simplified Disease Activity Index, Clinical Disease Activity Index and two ultrasound definitions (no power Doppler signal, grey scale score ≤2). Two outcomes were defined: no radiographic progression and good outcome (no radiographic progression+physical function≥general population median), both sustained 12–24 months. We calculated the ORs of these outcomes for the remission definitions.ResultsOf 103 patients, 42%–82% reached remission at 6 months, dependent on definition. Seventy-one per cent of patients had no radiographic progression and 37% had good outcome. An association between 6-month remission and no radiographic progression was observed for ACR/EULAR Boolean remission (44 joints, OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 8.4), ultrasound power Doppler (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 10.0) and grey scale remission (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 8.0). All clinical, but not ultrasound remission criteria were associated with achievement of a good outcome.ConclusionsOur data support ACR/EULAR Boolean remission based on 44 joints as the preferred treatment target in early RA. Absence of ultrasound inflammation was associated with no radiographic progression.Trial registration numberNCT01205854; Post-results.

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Is treat-to-target really working in rheumatoid arthritis? a longitudinal analysis of a cohort of patients treated in daily practice (RA BIODAM)

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216819 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (4) ◽

pp. 453-459 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Sofia Ramiro ◽

Robert BM Landewé ◽

Désirée van der Heijde ◽

Alexandre Sepriano ◽

Oliver FitzGerald ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Disease Activity Score ◽

Activity Index ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Daily Clinical Practice ◽

Joint Disease ◽

Activity Score ◽

Treat To Target

ObjectivesTo investigate whether following a treat-to-target (T2T)-strategy in daily clinical practice leads to more patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) meeting the remission target.MethodsRA patients from 10 countries starting/changing conventional synthetic or biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs were assessed for disease activity every 3 months for 2 years (RA BIODAM (BIOmarkers of joint DAMage) cohort). Per visit was decided whether a patient was treated according to a T2T-strategy with 44-joint disease activity score (DAS44) remission (DAS44 <1.6) as the target. Sustained T2T was defined as T2T followed in ≥2 consecutive visits. The main outcome was the achievement of DAS44 remission at the subsequent 3-month visit. Other outcomes were remission according to 28-joint disease activity score-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) and American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) Boolean definitions. The association between T2T and remission was tested in generalised estimating equations models.ResultsIn total 4356 visits of 571 patients (mean (SD) age: 56 (13) years, 78% female) were included. Appropriate application of T2T was found in 59% of the visits. T2T (vs no T2T) did not yield a higher likelihood of DAS44 remission 3 months later (OR (95% CI): 1.03 (0.92 to 1.16)), but sustained T2T resulted in an increased likelihood of achieving DAS44 remission (OR: 1.19 (1.03 to 1.39)). Similar results were seen with DAS28-ESR remission. For more stringent definitions (CDAI, SDAI and ACR/EULAR Boolean remission), T2T was consistently positively associated with remission (OR range: 1.16 to 1.29), and sustained T2T had a more pronounced effect on remission (OR range: 1.49 to 1.52).ConclusionIn daily clinical practice, the correct application of a T2T-strategy (especially sustained T2T) in patients with RA leads to higher rates of remission.

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AB0278 REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE OF DISEASE ACTIVITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH BIOLOGICAL DMARDS VERSUS TOFACITINIB.

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.5756 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 1438.2-1438

Author(s):

V. Boyadzhieva ◽

N. Stoilov ◽

E. Kurteva ◽

R. Stoilov

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Activity Index ◽

Real Life ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Significant Difference ◽

One Year

Background:Assessment of disease activity and quality of life are one of the main indicators for determining the effectiveness of treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. In recent years, a new group has entered the market - target synthetic DMARDS, which prove their effectiveness in treating RA comparable to that of biological products.Objectives:The aim of this study is to evaluate the disease activity and quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with biological agents in comparison with Tofacitinib (real life data from Bulgarian population) and determine whether or not the benefits of different therapies were sustained over a follow up period of 1 year.Methods:164 patients were selected with a mean age 55.34 ± 16SD years, meeting the 1987 ACR and /or ACR/ EULAR (2010) classification criteria for Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients were arranged according to treatment regimens: Tocilizumab (TCL) 30 patients, Certolizumab (CZP) 16, Golimumab (GOL) 22, Etanercept (ETN) 20, Adalimumab (ADA) 20, Rituximab (RTX) 16, Infliximab (INF) 20, Tofacitinib (TOF) 20. Disease activity and quality of life was the primary concern. Independent joint assessor evaluated 28 joints on baseline, 6th and 12th month’s thereafter. CRP was used to measure the inflammatory process.DAS28-CRP, clinical disease activity index (CDAI) and simplified disease activity index (SDAI)were calculated. On baseline all of the patients’ groups had severe disease activity (mean DAS28-CRP > 5.2, mean CDAI > 22, mean SDAI > 26. The quality of life was evaluated via EQ-5D.All of the patients were on stable therapy according to the inclusion criteria, and didn’t interrupt any of the medications including biological or target synthetic treatment.Results:Significant clinical improvement and statistically significant reduction in disease activity were observed in patients treated with bDMARDS and tsDMARDS within 6 months (p <0.005) of treatment and after 12 months of follow-up (p=0.039). The mean value of DAS28-CRP after one year follow up showed an non-inferior effect of Tofacitnib (3.04± 0.81) in comparison to biological treatment (TCL: 3.07 ± 0.73; CZP: 3.06 ± 0.65; GOL: 2.49 ± 0.76; ETN: 2.85 ± 0.55; ADA: 3.15 ± 0.82; RTX: 2.90 ± 0.70; INF: 3.14; ± 0.61; TOF: 3.04± 0.81). An improvement was also observed for the 6 to 12 months of follow-up as we did not detect a significant difference in the activity of the disease assessed by CDAI among the different drug groups.The mean values showing the change of the SDAI over the study period also outline comparable profiles. All of the treatment groups achieved a rapid reduction in disease activity that continued to decrease through the 6 and 12 months period, respectively, as supported by changes in SDAI.The quality of life evaluated with EQ-5D revealed significant improvement on the 6-th month of follow up as well as after 12th month (p<0.005) without significant difference between the observed groups.Conclusion:Real-life data show that patients on biological treatment as well as those on Tofacitinib therapy achieve a significant decrease in disease activity after one year of follow-up. This gives us reason to accept the importance of non-inferior effect of jak-inhibitors and their place in treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis.Disclosure of Interests:Vladimira Boyadzhieva: None declared, Nikolay Stoilov: None declared, Ekaterina Kurteva: None declared, Rumen Stoilov Grant/research support from: R-Pharm

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POS1182 MANAGEMENT OF DIFFICULT-TO-TREAT RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: EVIDENCE FROM THE ITALIAN EPICENTER

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.1188 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 872.1-872

Author(s):

F. Ingegnoli ◽

A. F. Luppino ◽

G. Cincinelli ◽

E. Favalli ◽

R. Caporali

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Control Strategy ◽

Targeted Therapies ◽

Activity Index ◽

Real Life ◽

Treat To Target ◽

Tight Control ◽

Face To Face

Background:Despite significant improvement in the RA management, up to twenty percent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a difficult-to-treat (D2T) disease. The COVID-19 related mitigation policies, for instance quarantine, and consequent difficult access to in-person visits, laboratory and imaging investigations, adversely affected the follow up of rheumatic patients. Although pandemic-imposed limitations could have negatively influenced disease management particularly in D2T patients, to what degree these restrictions affected the treat-to target (T2T) and tight-control strategy in this subgroup of RA patients has not been investigated yet.Objectives:To evaluate whether the switch to telehealth imposed by COVID-19 pandemic was effective in the management of D2T RA patients treated with targeted therapies.Methods:This observational retrospective real-life study was conducted from November 2019 through September 2020. Among RA patients treated with targeted therapies, RA D2T patients according to EULAR definition (1) were identified. Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) of these patients was analysed retrospectively before, during and after lockdown (LD). During LD period, patients could choose whether to receive home drug delivery or to maintain their face-to-face consultations, and in the former rheumatologists provided virtual care. To evaluate the effect of LD on the percentage of patients in remission, logistic mixed effects regression models were fitted, with CDAI remission as response variable.Results:Data were extracted from a longitudinal observational registry, and at baseline, 52 patients treated with targeted therapies were classified as D2T RA. Among them, during pre-LD, LD, and post-LD 11.54% (N=6), 53.49% (N=23), and 46.15% (N=24) had CDAI remission/low disease activity, while 46 (88.46%), 20 (46.51%) and 28 (53.85%) had CDAI moderate/high. All the patients completed the follow-up. Median values of CDAI during pre-LD, LD, and post-LD were 14.5 [IQR 12-21], 9 [IQR 5.5-16], and 11 [IQR 6-19.2] respectively (see Figure 1 below).Conclusion:Telephone-based tight control strategy ensured satisfactory management of D2T RA treated with targeted therapies. This temporary approach has been a feasible compensation for the decline of face-to-face visits also in this challenging group of RA patients, thus reassuring for future months before the end of pandemic.References:[1]Nagy G, et al. EULAR definition of difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2021;80(1):31-35.Disclosure of Interests:Francesca Ingegnoli: None declared, Angela Flavia Luppino: None declared, Gilberto Cincinelli: None declared, Ennio Favalli Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Sanofi-Genzyme, Lilly, UCB, Pfizer, Novartis, Janssen, Paid instructor for: Roche, MSD, Consultant of: Lilly, Galapagos, Roberto Caporali Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, Celltrion, Galapagos, Gilead, Lilly, Pfizer, Roche, UCB, Sanofi, Fresenius Kabi, Samsung bioepis, MSD, Consultant of: Galapagos, Gilead, Lilly,Janssen, MSD.

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Toward Defining Primary and Secondary Nonresponse in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated with Anti-TNF: Results from the BioTRAC and OBRI Registries

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.190102 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 510-517 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Edward C. Keystone ◽

Emmanouil Rampakakis ◽

Mohammad Movahedi ◽

Angela Cesta ◽

Melissa Stutz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Activity Index ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Treat To Target ◽

Biologic Agent ◽

Eular Response ◽

Biologic Treatment ◽

Actual Time ◽

Research Initiative

Objective.Although most patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) respond to anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment, some present with initial nonresponse (1ry nonresponse) or lose initial responsiveness (2ry nonresponse). We compared the rate of real-world “nonresponse” to first anti-TNF as reported by treating physicians to the nonresponse rate per accepted definitions and recommended treat-to-target strategies.Methods.Patients were included from the Biologic Treatment Registry Across Canada (BioTRAC) and Ontario Best Practices Research Initiative (OBRI) registries who were taking their first anti-TNF, with ≥ 1 followup visit. Posthoc reclassification of physician-reported nonresponse was based on prior achievement of 28-joint count Disease Activity Score based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) low disease activity (LDA), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) LDA, or good/moderate European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response, and actual time of physician-reported nonresponse.Results.Among 736 BioTRAC and 640 OBRI patients, 13.7% and 18%, respectively, discontinued their anti-TNF because of physician-reported nonresponse. Based on reclassification using disease activity, 65.6% (BioTRAC) and 87.2% (OBRI) of 1ry nonresponders did not achieve DAS28-ESR LDA, 65.6%/90.7% CDAI LDA, and 46.9%/61.5% good/moderate EULAR response. Among 2ry nonresponders, 50.7%/47.8% did not achieve DAS28-ESR LDA, 37.7%/52.9% CDAI LDA, and 15.9%/19.6% good/moderate EULAR response before treatment discontinuation. Regarding actual time of nonresponse, 18.8% of BioTRAC and 60.8% of OBRI 1ry nonresponders discontinued at ≤ 6 months. In both registries, a high proportion of 2ry nonresponders discontinued their anti-TNF after 12 months (87.0% BioTRAC, 60.9% OBRI).Conclusion.Physician-reported 1ry nonresponse was more correlated with non-achievement of DAS28-ESR LDA or CDAI LDA, whereas 2ry nonresponse with actual time of discontinuation. Further work is needed to confirm the importance of response and type of response to the initial anti-TNF in identifying patients most likely to benefit from a second biologic agent treatment.

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Long-term prognosis and quality of life in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis treated according to the 2015 ACR guideline (LELAND): protocol for a multicentre prospective observational study in Southern China

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023798 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. e023798

Author(s):

Jinjun Zhao ◽

Taihe Zhan ◽

Junqing Zhu ◽

Meida Fan ◽

Qin Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Activity Index ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Treat To Target ◽

Early Ra ◽

Long Term Prognosis

IntroductionRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic disease and one of the most disabling diseases for patients. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) issued a new guideline in 2015 for the treatment of RA based on the treat-to-target strategy to achieve better outcomes. This study will focus on the real-world rates of remission and low disease activity of patients with early RA in China, who will be treated according to the 2015 ACR guideline. Additionally, factors influencing treat-to-target outcomes will be analysed, and long-term prognosis and quality of life will be assessed.Method and analysisTwo-hundred patients with early RA will be enrolled, treated and followed up once every 3 months for 48 months. These patients should fulfil the 2010 RA classification criteria of the ACR/European League Against Rheumatism with a disease course of no more than 6 months and should also fulfil other eligibility criteria. The patients will be treated following the 2015 ACR guideline. Their disease activity will be assessed, and they will be instructed to complete several questionnaires once every 3 months. The primary outcomes are the Disease Activity Score on 28 joints and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index. The secondary outcome variables are the Simplified Disease Activity Index, Clinical Disease Activity Index and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 results, imaging data and personal medical costs. The data will be analysed using appropriate statistical analyses.Ethics and disseminationThis research was approved by the Nanfang Hospital Ethics Committee (NFEC-2017–192). The results of the study will be published in international peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberNCT03508713; Pre-results.

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Effect of Adherence to Protocolized Targeted Intensifications of Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs on Treatment Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from an Australian Early Arthritis Cohort

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.151392 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 43 (9) ◽

pp. 1643-1649 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Nasir T. Wabe ◽

Michael J. Sorich ◽

Mihir D. Wechalekar ◽

Leslie G. Cleland ◽

Leah McWilliams ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Functional Outcomes ◽

Activity Index ◽

Remission Rate ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Disease Activity Index ◽

Treat To Target ◽

Radiographic Outcomes ◽

Relevant Variables

Objective.To investigate the association between adherence to treat-to-target (T2T) protocol and disease activity, functional outcomes, and radiographic outcomes in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods.Data from a longitudinal cohort of patients with early RA were used. Adherence was determined at each followup visit over 3 years according to predefined criteria. The primary endpoint was remission according to Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) and Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) criteria. Functional and radiographic outcomes measured by modified Health Assessment Questionnaire and modified total Sharp score, respectively, were secondary endpoints.Results.A total of 198 patients with 3078 clinic visits over 3 years were included in this analysis. After adjusting for relevant variables, although there was no significant association between adherence to T2T and remission rate after 1 year, the associations reached significance after 3 years for both DAS28 (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.16–2.50; p = 0.006) and SDAI criteria (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.06–3.56; p = 0.033). After 3 years, adherence was also associated with improvement in physical function (β=0.12, 95% CI 0.06–0.18; p < 0.0001). None of the radiographic outcomes were associated with adherence after either 1 or 3 years, although there was a trend for higher adherence to be associated with less radiographic progression at the end of the study (p = 0.061).Conclusion.Increased adherence to T2T was associated with better longterm disease activity and functional outcomes, which suggests that the benefit of a T2T protocol may be enhanced by ensuring adequate adherence.

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