Comparison of physical function in early rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with biologics for 1 year who achieved clinical remission or low disease activity

Does remission in rheumatoid arthritis bring kinesiophobia, quality of life, fatigue, and physical activity closer to normal?

Objectives

This study aimed to compare kinesiophobia, fatigue, physical activity, and quality of life (QoL) between the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in remission and a healthy population.

Patients and methods

The prospective controlled study included 45 female patients (mean age: 54.22±8.2 year; range, 37 to 67 year) with a diagnosis of RA determined to be in remission according to the Disease Activity Score in 28 Joints (DAS28) being ≤2.6 between January 2022 and February 2022. As a control group, 45 female healthy volunteers (mean age: 52.2±8.2 year; range, 34 to 70 year) of similar age were evaluated. The QoL, disease activity, pain, kinesiophobia, fatigue severity, and physical activity were assessed using the Health Assessment Questionnaire, DAS28, Visual Analog Scale, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, Fatigue Severity Scale, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively.

Results

There was no significant difference between the groups in demographic data. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of pain, C-reactive protein level, fatigue, kinesiophobia, QoL, and total, high, and moderate physical activity scores (p<0.001). Among the RA patients in remission, there was a significant correlation between kinesiophobia and moderate physical activity and QoL, as well as between fatigue and high physical activity (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Patient education and multidisciplinary approach strategies should be developed to increase the QoL and physical activity and reduce kinesiophobia in RA patients in remission since there may be a decrease in physical activity due to kinesiophobia, fatigue, and fear of movement in this patient group compared to the healthy population, impairing their QoL.

Effect of disease duration and other characteristics on efficacy outcomes in clinical trials of tocilizumab for rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the extent to which disease duration, alone or in combination with other baseline clinical and non-clinical factors, explains variations in outcome of tocilizumab initiated in biologic-naïve patients with established RA.

METHODS

In this pooled analysis of phase 3 and 4 clinical trials conducted by the sponsor, predictors of response, including demographics, disease characteristics at baseline (start of tocilizumab dosing) and study characteristics (e.g. patient inclusion criteria, tocilizumab dosing regimen) were evaluated. Response was measured as change from baseline to week 24 in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and HAQ-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) scores and as the proportions of patients who experienced ≥50% improvement based on ACR criteria (ACR50) and CDAI remission (≤2.8) rates at week 24.

RESULTS

Improvements in all outcomes investigated were observed in patients receiving tocilizumab. Although disease duration was statistically significant in the models, it accounted for <2% of variation in CDAI and HAQ-DI score changes from baseline to week 24; baseline CDAI and HAQ-DI values accounted for 32% and 15% of variations, respectively. Doubling of disease duration reduced the odds of achieving an ACR50 response by only 9%, and each additional 5-year period of disease duration decreased the odds of achieving CDAI remission by only 15%.

CONCLUSION

RA duration, alone or in combination with other baseline characteristics, had a statistically significant but clinically small effect on the outcomes of tocilizumab initiated in biologic-naïve patients with established RA.

Importance of Measuring Hand and Foot Function Over the Disease Course in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Eight-Year Follow-Up Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess function using the Signals of Functional Impairment (SOFI) instrument over 8 years, to study clinical variables associated with the change, and to study change over time of the SOFI items.

METHODS

In total, 1,223 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the Better Anti-Rheumatic Farmacotherapy (BARFOT) cohort (mean ± SD age 56.9 ± 15.4 years, 67% women) were included in the analysis. Data from baseline and from 1 and 8 years were studied. The SOFI instrument includes measures of range of motion in the hand, shoulder/arm, and lower extremity (range 0-44, best to worst). The effects of baseline variables (sociodemographic, disease activity, joint destruction, and function) on change in SOFI scores were studied by linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

During the first year, the improvement in mean ± SD SOFI scores was 2.7 ± 5.7 (P < 0.001). Worse scores in the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints and Health Assessment Questionnaire score at baseline were associated with this improvement (r² ≤ 0.11). During the next 7 years, the deterioration in SOFI scores was mean ± SD 1.5 ± 4.9 (P < 0.001). Based on change scores, we found that finger flexion, pincer grip, and toe-standing were the most important items to measure, explaining 58-61% of the total SOFI score, and these items were also associated with radiographic changes at the 8-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Function as assessed with SOFI scores improved during the first year in patients with early RA, but it deteriorated slowly thereafter. Impaired hand and foot function was associated with joint destruction at the 8-year follow-up. Measures of hand and foot function will complement self-reported and medical data, both in clinical work and in long-term research studies.