Continual Maintenance of Remission Defined by the ACR/EULAR Criteria in Daily Practice Leads to Better Functional Outcomes in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumi Shidara ◽  
Ayako Nakajima ◽  
Eisuke Inoue ◽  
Daisuke Hoshi ◽  
Naoki Sugimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Functional Outcomes ◽  
Functional Disability ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
Joint Disease ◽  
Das28 Remission ◽  
Remission Criteria ◽  
Data Collections

Objective.To evaluate longterm functional outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on the number of times that the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) or the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) remission criteria were fulfilled.Methods.Patients with RA who participated in all 6 data collections in an observational cohort from 2008 to 2010 and who fulfilled the DAS28 remission criteria at baseline were studied. Patients were classified by the number of times they fulfilled the ACR/EULAR [Boolean trial, Boolean practice, Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), or Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI)] or DAS28 remission criteria at each collection. The OR for the Japanese version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (J-HAQ) progression, based on the number of times each set of remission criteria was fulfilled, were calculated by logistic regression.Results.A total of 915 patients were studied. The OR (95% CI) for J-HAQ progression were 0.54 (0.33–0.87), 0.55 (0.33–0.92), 0.48 (0.28–0.82), 0.29 (0.16–0.51), 0.24 (0.13–0.47), and 0.07 (0.03–0.15) for those fulfilling the Boolean trial remission from 1 to 6 times. This tendency was also observed for the other 4 criteria. The OR (95% CI) for J-HAQ progression in patients who achieved remission at all 6 data collections were 0.07 (0.03–0.14) for the Boolean practice, 0.10 (0.05–0.20) for the SDAI, and 0.07 (0.04–0.15) for the CDAI, whereas 0.15 (0.08–0.29) for the DAS28.Conclusion.Continual fulfillment of any remission criteria was strongly effective in preventing patients from progression of functional disability; however, the ACR/EULAR criteria appear to be preferable.

The Effect of Different Remission Definitions on Identification of Predictors of Both Point and Sustained Remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated with Anti-TNF Therapy

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1607-1613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl Barnabe ◽  
Joanne Homik ◽  
Susan G. Barr ◽  
Liam Martin ◽  
Walter P. Maksymowych
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
Joint Disease ◽  
Tender Joint Count ◽  
Sustained Remission ◽  
Tender Joint ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Das28 Remission

Objective.Predictors of remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been defined in cross-sectional analyses using the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), but not with newer composite disease activity measures or using the more clinically relevant state of sustained remission. We have evaluated predictors of remission using cross-sectional and longitudinal durations of disease state, and by applying additional definitions of remission [American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Boolean, Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), and Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI)].Methods.Individuals in the Alberta Biologics Pharmacosurveillance Program were classified for the presence of remission (point and/or sustained > 1 yr) by each of the 4 definitions. Multivariate models were constructed including all available variables in the dataset and refined to optimize model fit and predictive ability to calculate OR for remission.Results.Nonsmoking status independently predicted point remission by all definitions (OR range 1.20–2.71). Minority ethnicity decreased odds of remission by DAS28 (OR 0.13) and CDAI (OR 0.09) definitions. Male sex was associated with DAS28 remission (OR 2.85), whereas higher baseline physician global (OR 0.67) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate values (OR 0.98) decreased odds of DAS28 remission. Higher baseline patient global score (OR 0.77) and swollen joint counts (OR 0.93) were negative predictors for CDAI remission. Higher baseline Health Assessment Questionnaire (OR 0.62) reduced odds for remission by the SDAI definition, and educational attainment increased these odds (OR 2.13). Sustained remission was negatively predicted by baseline physician global for the DAS28 (OR 0.80), and higher tender joint count (OR 0.96) for the CDAI.Conclusion.We demonstrate the influence of duration of remission state and remission definition on defining independent predictors for remission in RA requiring anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. These predictors offer improved applicability for modern rheumatology practice.

scholarly journals Effect of disease duration and prior disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use on treatment outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (12) ◽  
pp. 1609-1615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Aletaha ◽  
Jen-fue Maa ◽  
Su Chen ◽  
Sung-Hwan Park ◽  
Dave Nicholls ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Disease Duration ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Joint Disease ◽  
Adalimumab Therapy ◽  
Disease Modifying

ObjectivesTo determine if disease duration and number of prior disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) affect response to therapy in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsAssociations between disease duration or number of prior DMARDs and response to therapy were assessed using data from two randomised controlled trials in patients with established RA (mean duration, 11 years) receiving adalimumab+methotrexate. Response to therapy was assessed at week 24 using disease activity outcomes, including 28-joint Disease Activity Score based on C-reactive protein (DAS28(CRP)), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and proportions of patients with 20%/50%/70% improvement in American College of Rheumatology (ACR) responses.ResultsIn the larger study (N=207), a greater number of prior DMARDs (>2 vs 0–1) was associated with smaller improvements in DAS28(CRP) (–1.8 vs –2.2), SDAI (–22.1 vs –26.9) and HAQ-DI (–0.43 vs –0.64) from baseline to week 24. RA duration of >10 years versus <1 year was associated with higher HAQ-DI scores (1.1 vs 0.7) at week 24, but results on DAS28(CRP) and SDAI were mixed. A greater number of prior DMARDs and longer RA duration were associated with lower ACR response rates at week 24. Data from the second trial (N=67) generally confirmed these findings.ConclusionsNumber of prior DMARDs and disease duration affect responses to therapy in patients with established RA. Furthermore, number of prior DMARDs, regardless of disease duration, has a limiting effect on the potential response to adalimumab therapy.

Can Remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis Be Assessed Without Laboratory Tests or a Formal Joint Count? Possible Remission Criteria Based on a Self-report RAPID3 Score and Careful Joint Examination in the ESPOIR Cohort

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 386-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Castrejón ◽  
Maxime Dougados ◽  
Bernard Combe ◽  
Francis Guillemin ◽  
Bruno Fautrel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Tender Joint Count ◽  
Kappa Statistics ◽  
Global Estimate ◽  
Remission Criteria ◽  
Joint Examination

Objective.To explore 5 possible criteria for remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on a patient self-report index, the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID3), with a careful joint examination and possible physician global estimate (DOCGL), but without a formal joint count or laboratory test.Methods.The ESPOIR early RA cohort of 813 French patients recruited in 2002–2005 was analyzed to identify patients in remission 6 months after enrollment, according to 2 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria: Boolean ≤ 1 for total tender joint count-28, swollen joint count-28, C-reactive protein, and patient global estimate (PATGL), and Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) ≤ 3.3. Agreement with 7 other remission criteria was analyzed — Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28) ≤ 2.6, Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) ≤ 2.8, and 5 candidate criteria based on RAPID3, joint examination, and DOCGL: “RAPID3R” (RAPID3 ≤ 3.0); “RAPID3R+SJ1” (RAPID3 ≤ 3.0, ≤ 1 swollen joint); “RAPID3R+SJ1+D1” (RAPID3 ≤ 3.0, ≤ 1 swollen joint, DOCGL ≤ 1); “RAPID3R+SJ0” (RAPID3 ≤ 3.0, 0 swollen joints); and “RAPID3R+SJ0+D1” (RAPID3 ≤ 3.0, 0 swollen joints, DOCGL ≤ 1), according to kappa statistics, sensitivity, and specificity. Residual global, articular, and questionnaire abnormalities according to each criteria set were analyzed.Results.Among 813 ESPOIR patients, 720 had complete data to compare all 9 possible criteria. Substantial agreement with the Boolean criteria was seen for SDAI, CDAI, RAPID3R+SJ1, RAPID3R+SJ1+D1, RAPID3R+SJ0, and RAPID3R+SJ0+D1 (92.2%–94.7%, kappa 0.67–0.79), versus only moderate agreement for DAS28 or RAPID3R (79.9%–85.8%, kappa 0.46–0.55).Conclusion.Remission according to CDAI and RAPID3R+SJ1, but not DAS28 or RAPID3R, is similar to that of the ACR/EULAR criteria. RAPID3 scores require a complementary careful joint examination for clinical decisions, do not preclude formal joint counts or other indices, and may be useful in busy clinical settings.

Biomarkers in Remission According to Different Criteria in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (11) ◽  
pp. 2066-2070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibel Yilmaz-Oner ◽  
Gulsen Ozen ◽  
Meryem Can ◽  
Pamir Atagunduz ◽  
Haner Direskeneli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Type I Collagen ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
Type Ii Collagen ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Type I ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 ◽  
Das28 Remission

Objective.Remission is the primary aim in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we aimed to evaluate biomarker profiles of patients in remission by different criteria and compare these profiles with controls.Methods.Serum levels of calprotectin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), type II collagen helical peptide, C-terminal crosslinking telopeptide of type I collagen generated by matrix metalloproteinases (ICTP), matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3), resistin, and leptin were measured by ELISA in 80 patients. The patients were in Disease Activity Score at 28 joints with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) remission, and had these characteristics: female/male 54/26, mean age 51.4 ± 12.1 years, mean disease duration 11.4 ± 8.1 years, rheumatoid factor positivity 68.7% (n = 55), anticyclic citrullinated peptide positivity 60.7% (n = 48). These patients were also evaluated for the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (Boolean) and Simple Disease Activity Index (SDAI) remissions. Additionally, 80 age-, sex-, and comorbidity-matched individuals without rheumatic diseases were included in the study as controls.Results.At recruitment of 80 patients in DAS28 remission, 33 patients (41.2%) were found in Boolean remission and 39 patients (48.7%) were in SDAI remission. Serum MMP-3, ICTP, resistin, and IL-6 levels of the 80 patients in DAS28 remission were statistically significantly higher than the controls. Patients in Boolean and SDAI remissions had significantly higher serum ICTP, resistin, and IL-6 levels in comparison with the controls.Conclusion.The 3 commonly used remission criteria of RA are almost similar with regard to patients’ biomarker levels. Biomarker profiles of patients may provide complementary information to clinical evaluation of remission and may help to determine the patients under the risk of progression.

scholarly journals Clinical efficacy of the rituximab biosimilar Acellbia® 600 mg in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis in clinical practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 703-708
Author(s):  
D. A. Kusevich ◽  
A. S. Avdeeva ◽  
V. V. Rybakova ◽  
N. V. Chichasova ◽  
E. L. Nasonov
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Clinical Efficacy ◽  
Safety Profile ◽  
Active Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
Eular Response ◽  
American College Of Rheumatology ◽  
Remission Criteria

Objective: to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the rituximab biosimilar Acellbia® at a dose of 600 mg intravenously at a 2-week interval in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) 12 and 24 weeks after initiation of treatment.Subjects and methods. Examinations were made in 20 active seropositive RA patients who had not been previously treated with biological agents (BAs), but received two infusions of the rituximab biosimilar Acellbia® at a dose of 600 mg intravenously at a 2-week interval during stable therapy with methotrexate (MT) and glucocorticoids (GCs). The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria (Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and Simplified Disease Activity Index) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria were used to evaluate the efficiency of Acellbia® therapy. Disease remission was identified by DAS28 and 2011 ACR/EULAR criteria. The safety profile (the frequency of all reported adverse events) corresponds to the data on the safety of rituximab (MabThera®).Results and discussion. At the time of inclusion, median DAS28 was 5.6 [4.9; 6.8], SDAI – 27.1 [23.0; 39.9], and CDAI – 26.6 [22.2; 37.0]. At week 12 after initiation of Acellbia® therapy, they decreased to 4.2 [3.24; 4.75], 14.4 [8.5; 20.7], and 13.2 [7.9; 19.0] respectively, which remained at 24-week follow-up (p<0.01). At week 12, the frequencies of ACR 20%, 50%, 70% improvements were 70, 55, and 5%; at week 24, these were 75, 45, and 15%, respectively. A good or moderate EULAR response at week 24 was observed in 25 and 60% of patients, respectively. At week 24, DAS28, SDAI, and CDAI remissions were achieved by 4 (20%), 2 (10%), and 1 (5%); low disease activity – by 4 (20%), 5 (25%), and 6 (30%) patients, respectively; high disease activity as measured by SDAI and CDAI remained in 3 (15%) patients. Two patients (10%) met the 2011 ACR/EULAR remission criteria at 24 weeks.Conclusion. The rituximab biosimilar Acellbia® 600 mg used in patients with active seropositive RA is clinically effective and comparable in the safety profile as shown in investigations of the brand-name MabThera® (F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd., Switzerland) at a low dose (500 mg), as well as the first BA.

The Role of Depression, Anxiety, Fatigue, and Fibromyalgia on the Evaluation of the Remission Status in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (9) ◽  
pp. 1755-1760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nevsun Inanc ◽  
Sibel Yilmaz-Oner ◽  
Meryem Can ◽  
Tuulikki Sokka ◽  
Haner Direskeneli
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Psychosocial Factors ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
American College Of Rheumatology ◽  
Remission Status ◽  
Remission Criteria ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Definition Of

Objective.To investigate the effect of depression, anxiety, fatigue, and fibromyalgia (FM) on the remission status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), defined according to the 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28)-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the Boolean-based new American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism remission criteria.Methods.The subjects were patients with RA who participated in a hospital-based observational cohort. Patients who met the DAS28-ESR remission criteria at their latest visit were invited to participate in our study. The patient groups fulfilling or not fulfilling the Boolean remission criteria were identified and compared with each other with regard to the presence of depression, anxiety, fatigue (0–50), and FM. The relationship between psychosocial factors and Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) remission, which is the index-based definition of remission in RA, was also investigated.Results.A total of 87 out of 428 patients (20%) with RA met the DAS28-ESR remission criteria and 32 (37%) of these also met the Boolean remission criteria, while 55 (63%) did not. Forty patients were also in SDAI remission. In the Boolean remission group, 2 patients had depression and 2 had anxiety (p = 0.004). In the Boolean nonremission group, 19 patients had depression and 13 had anxiety (p = 0.04). Continuous scales of anxiety (3.34 ± 3.76 vs 5.83 ± 4.70, p = 0.012) and depression (2.18 ± 2.75 vs 4.63 ± 4.10, p = 0.001) were also lower in the Boolean remission group in comparison with the nonremission group. Though FM syndrome was detected in only 1 patient of the Boolean remission group and in 7 patients of the Boolean nonremission group (p = 0.249), patients’ polysymptomatic distress scores of FM in the Boolean remission group were significantly lower than those of the nonremission group (3.12 ± 3.25 vs 6.27 ± 5.19, p = 0.001). The mean fatigue scores were 9.5 ± 10.6 in the Boolean remission group and 16.8 ± 12.8 in the Boolean nonremission group (p = 0.006). In multivariate analysis, patient’s global assessment (PtGA) and depression were found as the independent discriminators of Boolean-based definition. Similar relationships were also observed between psychosocial factors and SDAI remission.Conclusion.In patients with RA who do not fulfill the Boolean remission criteria, to avoid overtreatment, assessment of anxiety, fatigue, FM, and especially depression must be considered if PtGA scores and disease activity variables are significantly different.

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

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-459 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Validity and Risk of Adopting PGA ≤ 2 As A Remission Criteria of Boolean in Clinical Practice in Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ichiro Yoshii ◽  
Tatsumi Chijiwa ◽  
Naoya Sawada
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Clinical Remission ◽  
Global Assessment ◽  
Statistical Difference ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
Remission Criteria ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Validity and risk of setting patient’s global assessment (PGA) ≤ 2 as a Boolean remission criteria substituting PGA ≤ 1 in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was investigatedPatients were recruited from an area cohort, of whom attained Boolean remission (Boolean-1) or near remission with PGA ≤ 2 and the rest components were ≤ 1 (Boolean-2). Simplified disease activity index (SDAI) score was compared according to the criteria variations.A total of 517 patients were studied. Mean SDAI score of patients with Boolean-1 was significantly lower than that of patients with Boolean-2 at acquisition. The trend was evident in the patients who attained Boolean-1 remission. Mean SDAI score at acquisition, 6 months after, and 1 year after of patients who attained Boolean-2 first and then Boolean-1, was significantly inferior to that of patients who attained the remissions at the same time. The mean SDAI score at month 6 in the Boolean-2 was not SDAI remission at all.We concluded that setting PGA ≤ 2 as a remission criteria may not have statistical difference in disease activity from PGA ≤ 1, however, there was an determinant risk to misread that includes patient who losses clinical remission after acquisition.

American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Remission Criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis Maintain Reliable Performance When Evaluated in 44 Joints

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 1254-1258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Kaneko ◽  
Harumi Kondo ◽  
Tsutomu Takeuchi
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Clinical Remission ◽  
Global Assessment ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Physician Global Assessment ◽  
Remission Criteria ◽  
The Mean

Objective.To investigate the performance of the new remission criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in daily clinical practice and the effect of possible misclassification of remission when 44 joints are assessed.Methods.Disease activity and remission rate were calculated according to the Disease Activity Score (DAS28), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and a Boolean-based definition for 1402 patients with RA in Keio University Hospital. Characteristics of patients in remission were investigated, and the number of misclassified patients was determined — those classified as being in remission based on 28-joint count but as nonremission based on a 44-joint count for each definition criterion.Results.Of all patients analyzed, 46.6%, 45.9%, 41.0%, and 31.5% were classified as in remission in the DAS28, SDAI, CDAI, and Boolean definitions, respectively. Patients classified into remission based only on the DAS28 showed relatively low erythrocyte sedimentation rates but greater swollen joint counts than those classified into remission based on the other definitions. In patients classified into remission based only on the Boolean criteria, the mean physician global assessment was greater than the mean patient global assessment. Although 119 patients had ≤ 1 involved joint in the 28-joint count but > 1 in the 44-joint count, only 34 of these 119 (2.4% of all subjects) were found to have been misclassified into remission.Conclusion.In practice, about half of patients with RA can achieve clinical remission within the DAS28, SDAI, and CDAI; and one-third according to the Boolean-based definition. Patients classified in remission based on a 28-joint count may have pain and swelling in the feet, but misclassification of remission was relatively rare and was seen in only 2.4% of patients under a Boolean definition. The 28-joint count can be sufficient for assessing clinical remission based on the new remission criteria.

Achievement of Remission and Low Disease Activity Definitions in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Clinical Practice: Results from the NOR-DMARD Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 716-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Till Uhlig ◽  
Elisabeth Lie ◽  
Vibeke Norvang ◽  
Åse Stavland Lexberg ◽  
Erik Rødevand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
Joint Disease ◽  
Low Disease Activity ◽  
American College Of Rheumatology ◽  
Short Disease Duration ◽  
High Level

Objective.To examine the frequency of 6 definitions for remission and 4 definitions for low disease activity (LDA) after starting a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical practice, and to study whether predictors for achieving remission after 6 months are similar for these definitions.Methods.Remission and LDA were calculated according to the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID3), and both the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Boolean remission definitions 3 and 6 months after 4992 DMARD prescriptions for patients enrolled in the NOR-DMARD, a 5-center Norwegian register. Prediction of remission after 6 months was also studied.Results.After 3 months, remission rates varied between definitions from 8.7% to 22.5% and for LDA from 35.5% to 42.7%, and increased slightly until 6 months of followup. DAS28 and RAPID3 gave the highest and ACR/EULAR, SDAI, and CDAI the lowest proportions for remission. Positive predictors for remission after 6 months were similar across the definitions and included lower age, male sex, short disease duration, high level of education, current nonsmoking, nonerosive disease, treatment with a biological DMARD, being DMARD-naive, good physical function, little fatigue, and LDA.Conclusion.In daily clinical practice, the DAS28 and RAPID3 definitions identified remission about twice as often as the ACR/EULAR Boolean, SDAI, and CDAI. Predictors of remission were similar across remission definitions. These findings provide additional evidence to follow treatment recommendations and treat RA early with a DMARD.

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