Non-adherence to subcutaneous biological medication in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a multicentre, non-interventional study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate non-adherence to prescribed subcutaneous biologicals in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in Spain. METHODS: ARCO (Study on Adherence of Rheumatoid Arthritis patients to SubCutaneous and Oral Drugs) was a multicentre, non-interventional retrospective study involving 42 rheumatology clinics from representative hospitals throughout Spain. The primary objective was to assess the percentage of patients (aged ≥18 years with an established RA diagnosis) with non-adherence to prescribed subcutaneous biologicals using clinical records and hospital pharmacy dispensing logs as the primary information sources. Adherence was assessed using the Medication Possession Ratio (MPR). Additionally, patients completed the Morisky-Green Medication Adherence Questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 364 patients (77.5% females, mean age 54.9 years, median RA duration since diagnosis 7.8 years) were enrolled in ARCO. Non-adherence (MPR ≤80%) was reported in 52/363 evaluable patients (14.3%), and was lower in patients receiving initial monthly drug administration (6.4%) than with weekly (17.4%; p=0.034) or every two weeks (14.4%; p=0.102) administration. By multivariate analysis, non-adherence was positively associated with RA duration above the median and with using induction doses. Monthly administration, compared to weekly administration, was inversely associated with non-adherence. Age, gender, order of administration, and changes in the interval of administration, showed no association with non-adherence. Compared with the MPR, the Morisky-Green questionnaire performed poorly in detecting non-adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Non-adherence to the prescribed subcutaneous biological drug occurred in 14.3% of patients with RA. Patients using the most convenient administration period (i.e. monthly) had better adherence than those using more frequent dosing schedules.

Real-world apremilast use in biologic-naïve psoriatic arthritis patients. Data from Spanish clinical practice.

INTRODUCTION: Apremilast is approved for treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Real-world evidence on apremilast effectiveness in clinical practice is limited. METHODS: Observational study enrolling adult patients, across 21 Spanish centres, who had initiated apremilast in the prior 6 (±1) months and were biologic naive. Data were collected at routine follow-up visits 6 and 12 months after apremilast initiation. Primary outcome was 6 and 12-month persistence to apremilast. Secondary outcomes included Disease Activity for PsA (DAPSA), joint erosions, enthesitis, dactylitis, and patient-reported quality of life (QoL, measured using the PsA impact of disease [PsAID] questionnaire). RESULTS: We included 59 patients. Most had oligoarticular PsA, moderate disease activity, and high comorbidity burden. Three-quarters were continuing apremilast at 6 months and two-thirds at 12 months; mean (SD) apremilast treatment duration was 9.43 (1.75) months. DAPSA scores showed improved disease activity: one-third of patients in remission or low activity at apremilast initiation versus 62% and 78% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Eleven of 46 patients with radiographic assessments had joint erosions at apremilast initiation and none at month 12. Median (Q1, Q3) number of swollen joints was 4.0 (2.0, 6.0) at apremilast initiation versus 0.0 (0.0, 2.0) at 12 months. Incidence of dactylitis and enthesitis decreased between apremilast initiation (35.6% and 28.8%, respectively) and month 12 (11.6% and 2.4%, respectively). Over two-thirds of patients had a PSAID-9 score <4 (cut-off for patient-acceptable symptom state) at month 12. CONCLUSIONS: In Spanish clinical practice, two-thirds of PsA patients continued apremilast at 12 months, with clinical benefits at the joint level, no radiographic progression of erosions, and a positive impact on patient-reported QoL. Trial registration number Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03828045.

Satisfaction, fulfillment of expectations and adherence to subcutaneous biological drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: ARCO study. / Satisfacción, cumplimento de expectativas y adherencia al fármaco biológico subcutáneo en pacientes con artritis reumatoide. Estudio ARCO.

OBJECTIVES: In the ARCO study, adherence to subcutaneous biological agents by patients with rheumatoid arthritis improved with monthly administration. We assess whether adherence can be related to fulfillment of expectations and satisfaction with treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Adherence was assessed by calculating the Medication Possession Ratio, and satisfaction and fulfillment of expectations using the «EXPRESAR¼ group questionnaire. RESULTS: In 346 patients, those who were satisfied/very satisfied with efficacy and tolerability were ≥80% and 64.4%, with no differences between weekly, biweekly or monthly administration regimens. Regarding the fulfillment of expectations, 59.9% considered the effect of the treatment greater than expected and 52.6% reported lower/much lower than expected discomfort; the latter percentage was higher in patients with monthly administration (P=.049). The percentages for nonadherence were 15.6% (discomfort greater than expected), 18.5% (expected discomfort) and 11.1% (lower than expected or no discomfort) (P=.189). CONCLUSIONS: Satisfaction and fulfillment of expectations were high. Fulfillment of expectations of tolerability was better with monthly administration, which could contribute to better adherence.

Current status of multidisciplinary care in psoriatic arthritis in Spain: NEXUS 2.0 project. / Estado actual de la atención multidisciplinar para pacientes con artritis psoriásica en España: proyecto NEXUS 2.0.

OBJECTIVE: 1) To analyze the implementation of multidisciplinary care models in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients, 2) To define minimum and excellent standards of care. METHODS: A survey was sent to clinicians who already performed multidisciplinary care or were in the process of undertaking it, asking: 1) Type of multidisciplinary care model implemented; 2) Degree, priority and feasibility of the implementation of quality standards in the structure, process and result for care. In 6 regional meetings the results of the survey were presented and discussed, and the ultimate priority of quality standards for care was defined. At a nominal meeting group, 11 experts (rheumatologists and dermatologists) analyzed the results of the survey and the regional meetings. With this information, they defined which standards of care are currently considered as minimum and which are excellent. RESULTS: The simultaneous and parallel models of multidisciplinary care are those most widely implemented, but the implementation of quality standards is highly variable. In terms of structure it ranges from 22% to 74%, in those related to process from 17% to 54% and in the results from 2% to 28%. Of the 25 original quality standards for care, 9 were considered only minimum, 4 were excellent and 12 defined criteria for minimum level and others for excellence. CONCLUSIONS: The definition of minimum and excellent quality standards for care will help achieve the goal of multidisciplinary care for patients with PAs, which is the best healthcare possible.

Spanish Registry of Recent-onset Psoriatic Arthritis (REAPSER study): Aims and methodology. / Registro Español de Artritis Psoriásica de Reciente Comienzo (estudio REAPSER). Objetivos y metodología.

AIMS: To describe the methodology of REAPSER (Spanish Registry of Recent-onset Psoriatic Arthritis), its strengths and limitations. The aim of this study is to identify prognostic factors for the clinical and radiographic course in a cohort of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) diagnosed within 2years of symptom evolution. METHODS: Multicenter, observational and prospective study (with 2-year follow-up including annual visits). Baseline visit intended to reflect patient situation before the disease course was modified by treatments prescribed in rheumatology departments. Patients were invited to participate consecutively in one of their routine visits to the rheumatologist. 211 patients were included. Following data were collected: sociodemographic variables; employment situation; family history; personal history and comorbidities; anthropometric data; lifestyle; use of healthcare services; clinical situation at the time of PsA diagnosis; joint involvement and spinal pain; pain and overall assessment; enthesitis, dactylitis and uveitis; skin and nail involvement; functional situation and quality of life; radiographic evaluation; analytical determinations; treatment; axial and peripheral flare-ups. CONCLUSIONS: The REAPSER study includes a cohort of patients with recent-onset PsA, before the disease course was modified by disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs prescribed in rheumatology departments. Exhaustive information collected in each visit is expected to be an important data source for future analysis.

Worsening of obstructive sleep apnoeas in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor.

We report on a case of an adult patient treated for rheumatoid arthritis with infliximab, a chimerical monoclonal antibody to TNFalpha. Apart from this, the patient also showed clinical signs of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome that was confirmed by polysomnographic study. After infliximab treatment, additional sleep studies revealed an increase in the number of apneic events and SaO2 dips suggesting that TNFalpha plays an important role in the pathophysiology of sleep apnea. Thus, clinical recognition of sleep disordered breathing should be taken into account when rheumatoid arthritis patients are to be treated with infliximab.