Comorbidity in psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

The effect of polypharmacy on rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis treatment: retrospective study

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are chronic, progressive inflammatory diseases that can be accompanied by other diseases. In recent years, with the increase in the lifespan of individuals, the concept of polypharmacy has become more prominent. We aimed to show the prevalence of polypharmacy and the effects of polypharmacy on disease activity in RA and PsA.

Methods

This study included PsA patients who had peripheral joint involvement and, RA patients. Since PsA has a heterogeneous clinical picture, only patients with peripheral joint involvement were included in the study and patients with inflammatory low back pain or radiological sacroiliitis or spondylitis, dactylitis or enthesitis were not included in the study due to homogeneity concerns. The numbers of medications used by the patients at the onset of their treatment and at sixth months into their treatment were recorded. Polypharmacy was accepted as the simultaneous use of at least five medications by the person. The Disease Activity Score 28 joints C-Reactive Protein (DAS-28 CRP) was used to assess disease activity for both disease. The modified Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores of the patients were calculated based on their chronic diseases.

Results

The sample of the study included 232 RA and 73 PsA patients. Polypharmacy was present at the treatment onset in 115 (49.6%) of the RA patients and 28 (38.4%) of the PsA patients. At the sixth month of treatment, polypharmacy was present in the sixth month of the treatment in 217 (93.5%) RA and 61 (83.6%) PsA patients. The mean ages of the RA and PsA patients who were receiving polypharmacy treatment at the beginning were significantly older than the mean ages of those who were not receiving polypharmacy treatment. In both the RA and PSA groups, the patients with polypharmacy at the beginning had statistically significantly higher DAS-28 CRP scores at six months of treatment than those without polypharmacy at the beginning (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Polypharmacy was present both at the time of diagnosis and in the treatment process in the RA and PsA patients, and the presence of polypharmacy at the beginning of the treatment was among the factors that affected the treatment of these patients by significantly affecting their 6th-month DAS-28 CRP values.

Autonomic dysfunction and cardiovascular risk in psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory disease with a high prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) events due to traditional cardiovascular risk factors and increased systemic inflammation. In this review, our objectives were to (i) evaluate the cardiovascular events and risk factors and (ii) investigate the relationship between autonomic dysfunction and CV diseases in PsA. A systematic review of the literature was done on the Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and the Directory of Open Access Journals databases between January 2017 and July 2022. After screening and exclusions, 73 studies were included for the final review. Patients with PsA have a greater risk of CV diseases and increased traditional CV risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and dyslipidemia. Although autonomic dysfunction is more common in PsA than in the general population, its relationship with increased CV diseases in these patients is still unclear. Limitations in explaining CV risk in these patient groups complicate patient assessment as cardiovascular risk factors are linked to the morbidity and mortality of PsA, and it is essential to improve an optimal screening and management strategy for CV disease. All CV risk scoring systems cannot fully assess the CV risk in these patients, so in addition to scoring systems, carotid ultrasound evaluation may be a part of the CV evaluation.

Validity and psychometric characteristics of the self-administered comorbidity questionnaire in patients with psoriatic arthritis

The study aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the self-comorbidity questionnaire (SCQ) into Turkish and investigate the validity and reliability of SCQ and its modified version (mSCQ) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Psoriatic arthritis quality of life (PsAQoL) and short form 36 (SF-36) were used to assess the quality of life. The physical disability was evaluated with the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). The reliability of the SCQ scale was assessed by test-retest reliability. For construct validity, the correlations of SCQ with the HAQ, SF-36, PsAQoL, age, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, disease activity in psa (DAPSA), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), dactylitis and enthesitis were evaluated. The mSCQ was also used by removing the items related to rheumatic conditions. For the test-retest reliability of the Turkish version of SCQ, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.965, p < 0.001. The SCQ and mSCQ had significant correlations with HAQ, PsAQoL, some subscales of SF-36, and age (p < 0.05), but not with disease duration, BASDAI, PASI and dactylitis (p > 0.05). Although SCQ had a low correlation with DAPSA (rho = 0.262, p = 0.031), mSCQ was not correlated with DAPSA (p > 0.05). mSCQ was significantly correlated with BMI (rho = 0.233, p = 0.016), but SCQ was not (p > 0.05). The Turkish version of SCQ had adequate reliability and validity, and the mSCQ improved the validity of the scale in patients with PsA.

Curcumin: Useful add-on for Rheumatic Diseases?

Plant-derived nutraceuticals are proposed as new key instruments to represent a profound “back to basics” shift in medical treatment. Data accumulated over the past ten years suggest that curcumin, the major active compound of the turmeric plant, has anti-inflammatory properties. It has yet to be determined whether the anti-inflammatory profile of curcumin is potent enough to justify the application of this substance as a nutritional supplement for patients with rheumatic diseases. To address this question, the most relevant in vitro studies that investigate the mechanism of action of curcumin were reviewed in this article. In addition, a total of 18 animal and human trials were evaluated. The pleiotropic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of curcumin were observed in animal studies. In addition, human trials demonstrated promising findings. In these studies, curcumin was able to reduce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, lower the level of the C-reactive protein and improve clinical parameters. A limiting factor of the application of curcumin is the inconsistent bioavailability of the substance. Therefore, new formulations have been developed to improve the pharmacodynamic profile of curcumin. The future acceptance of the substance is dependent on new controlled clinical trials with a standardised formulation of curcumin administered as well as standard of care.

Systemic glucocorticoid use and the occurrence of flares in psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis: a systematic review

Objectives

The use of systemic glucocorticoids (SGCs) is traditionally discouraged in the treatment of PsA and psoriasis due to the risk of psoriatic flares. However, despite this recommendation, SGCs are frequently prescribed for these patients. In this study we reappraise the old paradigm that SGCs are contra-indicated in the treatment of PsA and psoriasis.

Methods

A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library databases was performed in November 2019 to identify articles on any SGC use compared with no use in the PsA and psoriasis population. Topical glucocorticoid treatment was excluded. Our two primary outcomes focused on the prescribing characteristics and the occurrence of any type of flare.

Results

Our search yielded 4922 articles, and of these 21 full-text articles were eligible for inclusion. There were 11 retro- and prospective cohorts involving a total of 4,171,307 patients. Of these, 6727 (37.82%) of the patients with PsA and 1 460 793 (35.17%) of the patients with psoriasis were treated with any type of SGC. Ten observational/interventional studies did not report an increased risk or occurrence of psoriatic flares related to SGC use.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that SGCs are frequently prescribed for PsA and psoriasis patients. The occurrence of psoriatic flares appears to be low upon SGC exposure. In patients with a clear indication for SGCs, e.g. in need of rapid anti-inflammatory therapy or bridging of therapies, the use of SGCs should be considered in view of the low risk of skin flaring. It remains of importance to weigh risks for short- and long-term SGC-related side effects in clinical decision making.

Depression in psoriatic arthritis: Related to socio-demographics, comorbid loads or disease activity?

AIM

Psychological distress commonly occurs in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression in PsA. The secondary objective was to explore its associated factors, including socio-demographics, disease activity data and comorbidities.

METHODS

Patients with PsA fulfilling the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis were consecutively recruited from local rheumatology clinics. Depression was assessed by a self-administered Chinese-Cantonese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

RESULTS

Two hundred and eight eligible patients with PsA were recruited, with 82 females and 126 males. Depression was found in 62 (29.8%) of them. The univariate model identified these associated factors: (1) Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score; (2) disease activity measurement, that is tender and swollen joint count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) score, Leeds Enthesitis Index and tender dactylitis count; (3) quality of life measurement, that is Health Assessment Questionnaire - Disability Index (HAQ-DI), pain and general health perception; (4) PsA duration; and (5) body mass index. The final regression model identified DAPSA and HAQ-DI were closely associated with depression, P = .007 and P = .02 respectively. Moderate and strong correlations with HADS score were found with DAPSA (Kendall's tau-b coefficient [τb] = 0.25) and HAQ-DI (τb = 0.4) respectively. No associations with depression were found between age, living and employment status, gender, demographics, inflammatory markers, disease duration, skin involvement and comorbidities, in term of Charlson's Comorbidity Index.

CONCLUSION

Depression was prevalent among PsA patients and it was closely correlated with disease activity and physical function impairment. Achieving low disease activity and maintaining physical function in patients with PsA may mitigate the psychological burden. The present study also highlighted the unmet needs of strategies to identify this common phenomenon.

Introduction and switching of biologic agents are associated with antidepressant and anxiolytic medication use: data on 42 815 real-world patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease

OBJECTIVES

Depression and anxiety are linked bi-directionally with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) activity, which in turn, depends on subjective patient reported outcomes that can be distorted by comorbid mood disorders. We tested the hypothesis that introduction and/or switching of biologic agents for IRDs are associated with treatment for depression and/or anxiety, by analysing real-world data.

METHODS

Using a country-wide electronic prescription database (10 012 604 registered, 99% population coverage), we captured almost all patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n=12 002), psoriatic arthritis (n=5465) and ankylosing spondylitis (n=6423) who received biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) during a 2-year period (8/2016-7/2018). Concomitant antidepressant/anxiolytic medication use was documented in patients who started or switched bDMARDs and compared with those who remained on conventional synthetic (cs)DMARDs or the same bDMARD, respectively, by multivariate regression analysis.

RESULTS

Two-year data analysis on 42 815 patients revealed that bDMARD introduction was associated with both antidepressant [OR: 1.248, 95% CI 1.153 to 1.350, p<0.0001] and anxiolytic medication use [OR: 1.178, 95% CI 1.099 to 1.263, p<0.0001]. Moreover, bDMARD switching was also associated with antidepressant [OR: 1.502, 95% CI 1.370 to 1.646, p<0.0001] and anxiolytic medication use [OR: 1.161, 95% CI 1.067 to 1.264, p=0.001]. Notably, all these associations were independent of age, gender, underlying disease diagnosis and concomitant glucocorticoid or csDMARD medication use.

CONCLUSION

In real-world settings, both introduction and switching of bDMARDs in patients with IRDs were associated with the presence of mood disorders. Although a causal relationship is uncertain, the impact of depression and anxiety should always be considered by physicians facing the decision to introduce or switch bDMARDs in patients with active IRDs.

Risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients initiating biologics/apremilast for psoriatic arthritis: a nationwide cohort study

Objective

Several biological DMARDs (bDMARDs) have demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in PsA. However, their comparative cardiovascular safety profiles remain unknown. We evaluated the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in PsA patients on therapy with different classes of bDMARDs and apremilast.

Methods

This nationwide cohort study involved the administrative healthcare database of the French health insurance scheme linked to the hospital discharge database. All adults with PsA who were new users of bDMARDs/apremilast (neither in the year before the index date) during 2015–19 were included. Patients with previous cardiovascular diseases were excluded. End of follow-up was 31 December 2019. The primary endpoint was an occurrence of MACEs in a time-to-event analysis with propensity score-weighted Cox and Fine–Gray models.

Results

Between 2015 and 2019, we included 9510 bDMARD new users [mean age 48.5 (s.d. 12.7) years; 42% men], including 7289 starting a TNF inhibitor, 1058 an IL-12/23 inhibitor and 1163 an IL-17 inhibitor, with 1885 apremilast new users [mean age 54.0 (s.d. 12.5) years; 44% men]. MACEs occurred in 51 (0.4%) patients. After propensity score weighting, the risk of MACEs was significantly greater with IL-12/23 (weighted hazard ratio 2.0, 95% CI 1.3, 3.0) and IL-17 (weighted hazard ratio 1.9, 95% CI 1.2, 3.0) inhibitors than TNF inhibitors, with no significant increased risk with apremilast (weighted hazard ratio 1.3, 95% CI 0.8, 2.2). Similar results were observed with the Fine–Gray competing risks survival model.

Conclusion

Analysis of a large database revealed a small overall number of MACEs, and the risk of MACEs was greater for PsA new users of IL-12/23 and IL-17 vs TNF inhibitors.

The burden of psoriatic arthritis in the biological era: data from the Belgian Epidemiological Psoriatic Arthritis Study (BEPAS)

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the frequency of PsA subtypes, as well as to estimate the severity based on damage and inflammation, and to estimate the impact of PsA on patients' health-related quality of life.

METHODS

Longitudinal observational study in 17 academic and non-academic centres in Belgium. Patients with PsA fulfilling CASPAR criteria were recruited. Three visits were scheduled: at baseline (T0), at one year (± one month) (T1) and at two years (± one month) (T2) of follow-up. Demographics, clinical data and patient reported outcome measures were collected at T0, T1 and T2. X-rays of hand and feet were collected yearly (T0, T1 and T2). X-rays of the spine were collected at T0 and T2. Here we report on the burden of disease based on the clinical data and patient reported outcomes.

RESULTS

461 patients were recruited. 73.5% have combined peripheral and axial involvement. 13.7% had hip involvement. Plaque psoriasis was predominant (83.9%). At inclusion respectively 42.7% and 58.8% had no tender or swollen joints. Dactylitis and enthesitis were still present in 13.7% and 24.1% of the patients respectively. 68% and 44,2% of patients was treated with DMARD's and/or anti TNF, respectively. Forty-three percent of the patients had a state of minimal disease activity and 62% considered the actual state as satisfactory (PASS). The mean HAQ score was 0.7% with 32.5% of patients who had score normal score (<0.3).

CONCLUSION

Despite the availability of different treatment options, including biologicals (anti-TNF), still a substantial number of patients have active disease and have a high disease burden.

Epidemiologic study of patients with psoriatic arthritis in a real-world analysis: a cohort study of the French health insurance database

OBJECTIVE

PsA is a chronic inflammatory arthritis with heterogeneous disease manifestations. Data on the prevalence of PsA in adults differ widely depending on the study and the country. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of PsA in France, characterize comorbidities associated to PsA and identify prescribed treatments.

METHODS

This nationwide cohort study involved the administrative healthcare database (Système National des Données de Santé) of the French health insurance scheme linked to the national hospital discharge database. All adults with PsA registered in the database and identified with a specific International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision code (M07) were included between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2018.

RESULTS

A total of 63 598 patients were identified as having PsA [55.9 years (s.d. 14.4), 45.6% males]. The prevalence of PsA was estimated at 0.1% and the incidence at 8.4 per 100 000 person-years in the general population. The most common comorbidities were hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and dyslipidaemia. The prevalence of treatment with conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs), biological or biosimilar DMARDs (b/bsDMARDs) and apremilast for PsA was 25.9% (16 453), 30.4% (19 325) and 3.5% (2231), respectively. Overall, 8966 (14.1%) patients were new users of csDMARDs, 8311 (13.1%) were new users of b/bsDMARDs and 1529 (7.4%) were new users of apremilast. The most common first-line csDMARD was methotrexate (70.9%) and the most frequent first-line b/bsDMARD was adalimumab (30.8%).

CONCLUSION

Our results lead to a better understanding of PsA. Results were similar to those from other published studies using other data sources, which highlights the reliability of insurance databases for studies.

Comorbidities in a Cohort of 66 Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis Mutilans-Results From the Nordic PAM Study

Objective: Psoriatic arthritis mutilans (PAM) is the most severe phenotype of psoriatic arthritis due to excessive bone erosion causing joint destruction and decreased functional capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of comorbidities among patients with PAM and the association between comorbidities and joint involvement. Methods: A total of 66 patients aged ≥18 years from the Nordic countries with past or present psoriasis along with at least one mutilated joint were included in the present study. Results: The median number of comorbid conditions per patient was 1 [interquartile range (IQR) 0-2] and 16.7% reported three or more comorbidities. The most frequent comorbidity was hypertension (36.4%). The median number of mutilated joints per patient was 3 (IQR 1-8.3; range 1-38). Conclusion: Two thirds of the patients with PAM reported comorbid conditions and the most frequent was hypertension which affected more than a third of the patients. However, this study was unable to detect any association between comorbidities and the severity of PAM.

Neglected extra-articular manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis patients with normal body mass index: reduced skeletal muscle overlapping overfat

Background:

Chronic inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can induce reduced muscle mass (myopenia) and ectopic fat deposition probably showing normal body mass index (BMI). We aimed to investigate their body composition (BC) characteristics and clinical significance.

Methods:

BMI and BC were collected in consecutive RA patients and control subjects. Myopenia was defined by appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) ⩽7.0 kg/m² in men and ⩽5.7 kg/m² in women. Overfat was defined by body fat percentage (BF%) as ⩾25% for men and ⩾35% for women.

Results:

There were 620 RA patients (57.6% with normal BMI) and 2537 control subjects (62.5% with normal BMI) recruited. After 1:1 age and sex matching with control subjects, RA patients with normal BMI (n = 240) showed significantly higher prevalence of myopenia (43.3% versus 22.1%) and overfat (19.2% versus 7.1%) as well as myopenia overlapping overfat (17.1% versus 3.3%). In all RA patients with normal BMI (n = 357), there were 18.2% patients with myopenia overlapping overfat who had the worst radiographic scores and highest rates of previous glucocorticoid treatment and hypertension. Compared with those without, normal BMI RA patients with previous glucocorticoid treatment (24.4% versus 10.3%) or hypertension (27.8% versus 13.6%) had a higher rate of myopenia overlapping overfat. Previous glucocorticoid treatment [odds ratio (OR) = 2.844, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.441–5.614] and hypertension (OR = 2.452, 95% CI 1.283–4.685) were potential associated factors of myopenia overlapping overfat in RA patients with normal BMI.

Conclusion:

Myopenia overlapping overfat is an important extra-articular manifestation which should not be ignored in RA patients with normal BMI, especially with glucocorticoid treatment and hypertension.

Higher depression rates and similar cardiovascular comorbidity in psoriatic arthritis compared with rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes mellitus

Background

We explore the spectrum of comorbidities in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients in comparison with other high comorbidity-burden diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods

Two hundred and fifteen PsA patients, cross-sectionally collected from two tertiary hospitals, were compared with 215 RA and 215 DM patients (age/sex-matched, similar disease duration). Cardiovascular risk factors [hypertension, current smoking, hyperlipidaemia, obesity (body mass index (BMI) ⩾30)], coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, major adverse cardiac events (MACEs; combined CAD and stroke), depression, osteoporosis and malignancies were recorded. Odds ratios (ORs) for stroke, CAD and MACE were adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidaemia, BMI, glucocorticoids use and those for depression were adjusted for age, sex, disease duration, skin involvement and smoking. Within the PsA group, associations between comorbidities and demographic/clinical features were assessed.

Results

Depression [OR (95% confidence interval (CI)): 3.02 (1.57-5.81)], obesity [OR (95% CI): 2.83, (1.65-4.86)] and hyperlipidaemia [OR (95% CI): 1.96 (1.32-2.90)] were more prevalent in PsA compared with RA, while no differences were observed for CAD, stroke, MACE and malignancies. Depression [OR (95% CI): 4.85 (2.37-9.93)] and osteoporosis [OR (95% CI): 6.22 (1.33-29.2)] were more common in PsA than in DM. Hypertension, but not the other cardiovascular risk factors, was more frequent in DM [OR (95% CI) 0.49 (0.33-0.74)]. However, prevalence of stroke, CAD and MACE did not differ between PsA and DM. Within PsA group, depression was associated with age [OR (95% CI): 1.03 (0.99-1.06)], female sex [OR (95% CI): 3.47 (1.51-7.99)] and smoking [OR (95% CI): 2.78 (1.31-5.88)] while MACEs were associated with age [OR (95% CI): 1.08 (1.00-1.17)], male sex [OR (95% CI) for females: 0.26 (0.06-1.23) and hypertension [OR (95% CI): 6.07 (1.12-33.0)]. No differences were recorded in comorbidities between the different PsA phenotypes.

Conclusion

Depression was more prevalent in PsA compared with RA and DM, while cardiovascular comorbidity was comparable to both groups, supporting the need for their assessment and management.

Erectile Dysfunction in Men With Psoriatic Arthritis: A Population-based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To define the incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in a population-based cohort of men with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS

Data pertaining to demographics, ED, and potential confounding diagnosis were extracted from a comprehensive medical record system for a population-based cohort of men with PsA and an age-matched male comparator cohort. Cumulative incidence of ED adjusted for competing risk of death was compared between the 2 cohorts.

RESULTS

There were 128 age-matched pairs of men with PsA and without PsA in the described cohorts. At baseline, there was a 7% prevalence of ED in men with PsA prior to diagnosis compared to a 3% prevalence of ED in the comparator cohort (P = 0.16). After PsA diagnosis/index date, diagnosis with PsA was associated with an increased risk of ED (age-adjusted HR 1.45, 95% CI 0.79-2.68), but this association did not reach statistical significance. This was based on 24 cases of ED in the men with PsA and 18 cases within the comparator cohort. No confounding factors or ED treatment strategies differed significantly between men with PsA and ED and comparators with ED.

CONCLUSION

Men with PsA may have an increased risk of ED, which was detected but likely underpowered in this study. Whether this difference is secondary to higher prevalence of traditional risk factors of ED in men with PsA compared to the general population will require further study.

Patient-Centered Care in Psoriatic Arthritis-A Perspective on Inflammation, Disease Activity, and Psychosocial Factors

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a seronegative spondyloarthropathy characterized by skin lesions, dactylitis, and enthesitis. Patients with PsA suffer from a variety of psychosocial difficulties and nonspecific symptoms early on in the disease course and continue to experience progressive disease due to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms initially viewed as somatization could lead to undertreatment and promote psychological distress, poor coping, and negative patient-provider relationships. Pain and fatigue are important complaints that affect the patient's perception and may need to be addressed with a multidisciplinary approach. Maladaptive cognitive responses can lead to a negative illness perception and impact patient beliefs and concerns over treatment, as well as nonadherence. An underlying inflammatory component in affective disorders has been examined, though whether and how it may interact mechanistically in PsA warrants interest. Cognitive behavioral therapy represents a nonpharmacological treatment modality that can be combined with cytokine-targeted therapy to address both somatic and psychological complaints. Future directions for research include: (1) Elucidating nonspecific manifestations (e.g., subclinical stage, differential with functional syndromes) of PsA and how they impact diagnosis and management; (2) characterizing immune-mediated components of mood disorders in PsA; and (3) whether a bidirectional approach with abrogating inflammation and psychotherapeutic support leads to improved outcomes.

The Impact of Comorbidity on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

A systematic literature review was conducted with the aim to analyse the impact of comorbidity on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS

A sensitive search strategy of the Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library (up to March 2019) was applied to retrieve studies for inclusion in this systematic literature review. Abstracts of the ACR and EULAR scientific meetings were also searched. The selection criteria were: (1) patients with PsA (population) with a comorbidity (intervention) and (2) report of any impact of the comorbidity on PROs. Systematic literature reviews, randomized controlled trials and observational were included in this systematic literature review. Two of the authors selected the articles and collected the data.

RESULTS

Eighteen articles were included in this systematic literature review, with most being cross-sectional studies that included more than 9000 patients with PsA. Some studies analysed the impact of an individual comorbidity, such as fibromyalgia (FM), and in others the analysis was according to the number of comorbidities. The most frequently analysed PROs were function, quality of life and fatigue. Analysis of the studies included in the review showed that patients with a higher number of comorbidities and/or more severe comorbidities reported worse impacts of their disease on function, patient's global assessment (PGA), pain, fatigue, work disability and quality of life. Specifically, FM had a negative impact on the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), function, quality of sleep and quality of life; anxiety and depression had a negative impact on function and fatigue; metabolic syndrome had a negative impact on BASDAI, function, PGA and quality of life; obesity had a negative impact on function and pain; smoking (current and ex-smokers) had a negative impact on pain, function, fatigue, quality of life and overall health; alcohol intake had a negative impact on pain, function, fatigue, quality of life and overall health.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence and impact of medical comorbidity on PROs are very high in patients with PsA.

Safety Profile of Biologics Used in Rheumatology: An Italian Prospective Pharmacovigilance Study

Post-marketing surveillance activities are essential to detect the risk/benefit profile of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in inflammatory arthritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate adverse events (AEs) in patients treated with bDMARDs in rheumatology during a prospective pharmacovigilance study from 2016 to 2018. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to evaluate bDMARDs-related variables of patients without AEs/failures vs patients with AEs and failures. The risk profile among biologics was assessed by comparing patients treated with each bDMARD to patients treated with etanercept. A total of 1155 patients were enrolled, mostly affected by rheumatoid arthritis (46.0%). AEs and failures were experienced by 8.7% and 23.3%, respectively. The number of comorbidities significantly influenced the onset of AEs, while anxiety-depressive, gastrointestinal disease, and fibromyalgia influenced onset of failures. The probability of developing an AE was significantly lower in patients treated with secukinumab, while the probability of developing treatment failure was significantly lower in patients treated with golimumab, secukinumab and tocilizumab. A total of 216 AEs were reported (25.5% serious), mostly regarding infections (21.8%), musculoskeletal (17.6%) and skin (16.2%) disorders. Serious AEs included neutropenia (12.7%), lymphocytosis (9.1%) and uveitis (7.3%). The obtained results revealed known AEs but real-world data should be endorsed for undetected safety concerns.

Moderate Psoriatic Arthritis and Perspectives from Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibition

Although there is no universally approved definition of moderate psoriatic arthritis (PsA), many clinicians see patients who they feel fit into this category: patients with limited joint involvement, but who might also show other manifestations of the disease, as well as a range of comorbidities. In his presentation, Dr Siebert described the challenges faced in treating this group of patients, who are mostly not captured in clinical trials. Recent advances in PsA treatment have focussed towards the severe end of the spectrum, suggesting that more must be learned around treatment options for patients with moderate disease. This represents a large unmet need. Given the heterogeneity of this patient population, a range of effective treatments is needed. Prof Gladman then presented data from longitudinal cohorts to illustrate the high burden of disease in patients with PsA who had a limited number of affected joints. By comparing patients with oligoarticular PsA (i.e., ≤4 affected joints) with those with polyarticular arthritis (≥5 affected joints), Prof Gladman showed that disease burden is not solely driven by the number of affected joints, but also by other PsA manifestations and/or comorbidities. There are clear gaps in our knowledge of PsA; to address these, population studies and trials of potential treatments are needed. Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibition is one potential treatment strategy that is currently being investigated. Dr Behrens described a post-hoc analysis of data pooled from three Phase III clinical trials that suggests the PDE4 inhibitor apremilast may be an effective treatment for patients with moderate PsA. It is hoped that this will be confirmed by the ongoing FOREMOST trial, a Phase IV study of apremilast in patients with oligoarticular PsA.

Systematic review of mental health comorbidities in psoriatic arthritis

OBJECTIVE

In this systematic review and meta-analysis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) studies, we pooled data from existing literature to (1) estimate the prevalence of mental health disorders in PsA patients and (2) compare disease activity in PsA patients with and without these comorbidities.

METHOD

We searched PubMED, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library using a predefined protocol in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Where possible, meta-analysis was performed using random effects model. Prevalence estimates were pooled according to the severity of mental health disorders.

RESULTS

A total of 24 studies, amounting to 31,227 PsA patients, were included for review. Anxiety and depression were the only consistently reported mental health disorders, defined using a range of screening criteria/thresholds. Anxiety prevalence ranged from 4 to 61% with a pooled estimate of 33% (95%CI 17 to 53%) having at least mild anxiety and 21% (95%CI 14 to 29%) at least moderate. Depression prevalence ranged from 5 to 51%, with 20% (95%CI 8 to 35%) having at least mild and 14% (95%CI 8 to 21%) at least moderate. Only two studies compared disease activity according to the presence of mental health comorbidities; both reported higher disease activity and pain among those with comorbid anxiety and depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent among PsA patients. Studies of other mental health disorders were scarce. More studies are needed on the impact of these comorbidities on disease activity and long-term outcomes.Key Points• One in three patients with psoriatic arthritis has at least mild anxiety, while 1 in 5 reported at least mild depression.• PsA patients with anxiety and/or depression reported greater disease activity.• More research is needed on other mental health comorbidities, particularly sleep, suicide/self-harm and substance misuse.

Comorbidities in inflammatory bowel disease: a call for action

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic systemic inflammatory condition. Previously, the focus has been on extraintestinal manifestations of IBD, including arthritis, psoriasis, and uveitis. Although comorbidities have long been the subject of intensive research in other chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, the concept of comorbidities is only beginning to emerge in IBD. Several comorbid conditions have been proposed to be related to IBD, including cardiovascular disease, neuropsychological disorders, and metabolic syndrome. Recognition of these conditions and their treatment could lead to better management of IBD. This Review aims to explore current knowledge regarding classic and emerging comorbidities related to IBD.