Relationship between disease activity and patient-reported outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis: Post hoc analyses of overall and Japanese results from two phase 3 clinical trials

• Published in: Modern rheumatology Vol. 28; no. 6; pp. 950 - 959
• Main Authors: Ishiguro, Naoki, Dougados, Maxime, Cai, Zhihong, Zhu, Baojin, Ishida, Masato, Sato, Masayo, Gaich, Carol, Quebe, Amanda, Stoykov, Ivaylo, Tanaka, Yoshiya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 02.11.2018
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antirheumatic Agents - adverse effects; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - epidemiology; Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; Female; Humans; Japan; Male; Methotrexate - adverse effects; Methotrexate - therapeutic use; Middle Aged; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; patient-reported outcomes; Quality of Life; randomized controlled trial; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; remission; rheumatoid arthritis; Japan; patient-reported outcomes; rheumatoid arthritis; Japan; remission; randomized controlled trial
• ISSN: 1439-7595; 1439-7609
• DOI: 10.1080/14397595.2017.1422232

Objective: To examine patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with different rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity levels and identify residual symptoms. Methods: Post hoc analyses of overall and Japanese data from two randomized controlled trials including RA patients with previous inadequate responses to methotrexate (NCT01710358) or no/minimal previous disease-modifying antirheumatic drug treatment (NCT01711359) (sponsor: Eli Lilly and Company). Week 24 assessments were disease activity (Simplified Disease Activity Index, Disease Activity Score/Disease Activity Score 28 joints-erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and PROs (pain visual analog scale [VAS], morning joint stiffness [MJS], Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue, and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Health Survey Physical and Mental Component Scores). Results: Patients achieving remission/low disease activity (LDA) at Week 24 had larger/significant improvements from baseline in pain, MJS, disability, fatigue, and physical and emotional quality of life versus patients with high/moderate disease activity. Some patients achieving remission and LDA, reported residual pain (pain VAS >10 mm): 20.8-39.3% and 48.7-70.0% (overall study populations), 16.0-34.5% and 47.1-62.0% (Japanese patients). Residual MJS and fatigue were also reported. Conclusion: Remission/LDA were associated with improvements in PROs in overall and Japanese patient populations; however, some patients achieving remission had residual symptoms, including pain.