Work-Related Issues and Physical and Psychological Burden in Canadian Patients With Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results From the International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with work-related issues in Canadian patients with axial spondyloarthritis. METHODS: Data from 542 Canadian patients who participated in the International Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis online survey were analyzed. Participants who were employed, unemployed, or on short-term disability were included in this analysis. Regression analysis was used to study the association between work-related issues, disease activity (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index [BASDAI]), and psychological distress (12-item General Health Questionnaire [GHQ-12]). RESULTS: The mean age of surveyed participants was 44.3 (SD 13.9) years, 81% were university educated, and 52.6% employed. A substantial proportion had high disease activity (BASDAI ≥ 4, 72.1%) and psychological distress (GHQ-12 ≥ 3, 53.1%); 81% had work-related issues. This study analyzed responses from a subset of participants who were either employed, unemployed, or on short-term disability (n = 339). Ninety percent of this subset reported at least 1 work-related issue in the year before questionnaire completion, with the most frequent being absenteeism (49.3%) and missing work for healthcare provider visits (42.5%). Factoring in disability benefits eliminated the association between work-related issues and disease activity for all variables except fatigue (r = 0.217; P = 0.03) and discomfort (r = 0.196; P = 0.047). Difficulty fulfilling working hours (ß 2.342, 95% CI 1.413-3.272) and effect on professional advancement (ß 1.426, 95% CI 0.355-2.497) were associated with psychological distress. In the presence of disability benefits, only the effect on professional advancement remained (ß 2.304, 95% CI 0.082-4.527). CONCLUSION: Work-related issues are associated with worse patient-reported outcomes, both physical and psychological.

Use of corticosteroids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with infliximab: treatment implications based on a real-world Canadian population.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the rate of concomitant oral corticosteroid use at antitumour necrosis factor (TNF) initiation and at disease remission, and to assess its effect on incidence of infection and sustainability of remission among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with infliximab in Canadian routine care. METHODS: Biological naïve patients with RA followed in the Biologic Treatment Registry Across Canada (BioTRAC) were included. The time-dependent association between corticosteroid dose (no use, ≤5 mg/day, >5 mg/day) and the incidence of first infection, while considering possible confounders, remission sustainability and the incidence of subsequent infections were assessed with Cox regression. RESULTS: 838 patients were included; mean (SD) baseline age and disease duration were 55.6 (13.5) and 10.5 (9.8) years, respectively. After a mean (SD) of 51.3 (43.6) months, the total incidence of adverse events (AEs) and infections were 110.2 and 19.6 per 100 person-years (PY), respectively. In multivariate analysis, the HR (95% CI) for acquiring an infection was 2.48 (1.24 to 4.98) with >5 mg/day of corticosteroids versus no corticosteroids. Similarly, ≤5 mg/day of corticosteroids was associated with increased hazard for infection (2.12 (0.97 to 4.66)). Despite DAS28 (disease activity score 28) or Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) remission, corticosteroids were continued in 16.4% and 16.7% of cases, respectively. Continued corticosteroid treatment was not associated with sustainability of remission (HRDAS28 (95% CI) 1.40 (0.95 to 2.06); HRCDAI 1.19 (0.75 to 1.88)), however, it had a significant impact on development of infection (HRDAS28 (95% CI) 1.78 (1.00 to 3.19); HRCDAI 2.38 (1.14 to 4.99)). CONCLUSIONS: Oral corticosteroid treatment was associated with increased risk of development of infection without impacting sustainability of remission. These results support the notion that corticosteroids should be used concomitantly with anti-TNF for the shortest period possible to achieve remission, and then tapered. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00741793.

Bisphosphonates for treatment of osteoporosis: expected benefits, potential harms, and drug holidays.

OBJECTIVE: To outline the efficacy and risks of bisphosphonate therapy for the management of osteoporosis and describe which patients might be eligible for bisphosphonate "drug holiday." QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: MEDLINE (PubMed, through December 31, 2012) was used to identify relevant publications for inclusion. Most of the evidence cited is level II evidence (non-randomized, cohort, and other comparisons trials). MAIN MESSAGE: The antifracture efficacy of approved first-line bisphosphonates has been proven in randomized controlled clinical trials. However, with more extensive and prolonged clinical use of bisphosphonates, associations have been reported between their administration and the occurrence of rare, but serious, adverse events. Osteonecrosis of the jaw and atypical subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femur fractures might be related to the use of bisphosphonates in osteoporosis, but they are exceedingly rare and they often occur with other comorbidities or concomitant medication use. Drug holidays should only be considered in low-risk patients and in select patients at moderate risk of fracture after 3 to 5 years of therapy. CONCLUSION: When bisphosphonates are prescribed to patients at high risk of fracture, their antifracture benefits considerably outweigh their potential for harm. For patients taking bisphosphonates for 3 to 5 years, reassess the need for ongoing therapy.