Attainment of the Patient-acceptable Symptom State in 548 patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Influence of demographic factors.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the clinical and socio-demographic factors associated with Patient Acceptable Symptom Status (PASS) in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). METHODS: In a post-hoc analyses of a cross-sectional study, RA patients from 11 countries were included. PASS was assessed as acceptable/not acceptable status by the patient. Variables collected included socio-economic (gender, age and country gross domestic product (GDP) per capita) and clinical variables: DAS28-3vESR (28 joint counts and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate), the patient-reported Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID) score and its seven domains (scored 0 to 10). Patients in PASS or not were compared through univariable tests and factors associated with PASS assessed by multivariable forward conditional logistic regression. A similar analysis was performed in the subgroup patients in DAS28 remission (n=168). RESULTS: A total of 548 patients were included: 80.5% female, mean (±SD) age 55.8±12.8years, disease duration 13.6±10.6 years, DAS28 3.6±1.5. Overall, 360 (65.7%) considered themselves to be in PASS. Independent factors positively associated with being in PASS were age>50 years [odds ratio, OR 1.67; (95% confidence Interval: 1.04-2.67)], a lower DAS28 [OR: 1.28 (1.08-1.52)], lower pain [OR:1.45 (1.27-1.64)] and better emotional well-being [OR:1.28 (1.13-1.45)]. Among patients in remission, being in PASS was positively associated with less severe pain [OR: 2.50 (1.79-3.84)], age>50 years [OR 3.30 (1.03 to10.87)] and living in a country of the low GDP category [OR: 5.08; (1.34-19.23)]. CONCLUSIONS: Being in PASS is related to many factors besides disease activity, including age, perceived impact of the disease and national GDP.