The impact of a disease flare during tapering of DMARDs on the lives of rheumatoid arthritis patients

Mulligen, E. van; Weel, A.E.A.M.; Kuijper, T.M.; Hazes, J.M.W.; Helm-van Mil, A.H.M. van der; Jong, P.H.P. de (2020)

Article / Letter to editor

Objectives: To determine the impact of a disease flare on patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, who are tapering treatment.Methods: Data were used from the TARA trial; a multicenter, randomized controlled trial in which RA patients, with a well-controlled disease (DAS <= 2.4 and SJC <= 1) for at least 6 months, gradually tapered their DMARDs. PROMs of patients with a flare (DAS>2.4 and/or SJC>1) were compared every three months before and after a flare with their own norm values. Linear Mixed Models were used to investigate whether a disease flare influenced functional ability (HAQ-DI), fatigue (BRAF-MDQ), quality of life (EQ-5D and SF36), anxiety and depression (HADS), morning stiffness, general health (GH) and worker productivity, and if so, the duration was determined. For unemployment and sick leave we used descriptive statistics.Results: A flare negatively influenced GH, morning stiffness, HAQ-DI, EQ-5D, BRAF-MDQ and the SF36 physical component scale and this effect lasted >3 months. Except for the HAQ-DI, effect sizes exceeded the minimum clinically important differences (MCIDs). For the physical outcomes effects lasted >6 months. Worker productivity was not significantly affected by a flare.Conclusion: A disease flare influenced patients' lives, the largest effect was seen in the physical outcomes, and lasted 6 months. Although on a group level effect sizes for the separate PROMs were not always significant or larger than specific MCIDs, a disease flare can still be of great importance for individual patients. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.

• Tapering
• DMARDs
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Patient reported outcome measures

• All authors: Mulligen, E. van; Weel, A.E.A.M.; Kuijper, T.M.; Hazes, J.M.W.; Helm-van Mil, A.H.M. van der; Jong, P.H.P. de
• Date: 2020-06-01
• Journal: Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 423 - 431
• DOI: doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2020.02.011
• Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0049017220300640?via%...