AB0201 IMPACT OF TREATMENT INITIATION DELAY ON DISEASE ACTIVITY DURING RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. (13th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bettaieb, H.; Fazaa, A.; Miladi, S.; Sellami, M.; Kmar, O.; Souabni, L.; Kassab, S.; Chikili, S.; Leith, Z.; Ben Abdelghani, K.; Laatar, A.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 79(2020)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 1401
• Page End: 1401
• Publication Date: 2020-06-13
• Subjects: Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.6144
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Background: During rheumatoid arthritis (RA), initiating conventional synthetic Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (csDMARD) at the early stages of the disease is a mandatory condition to achieve DMARD-free sustained remission (1). Limited data studying the relationship between RA treatment delay and disease activity are available. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of csDMARD initiation delay during RA on disease activity. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study including patients with RA (ACR/EULAR criteria).Delays were collected from patients' interview and were represented respectively by D1, D2 and D3. D1 stands for the lag time separating the first RA symptom onset and rheumatologist consultation. D2 stands for the lag time separating the first RA symptom onset and RA diagnosis. D3 stands for lag time separating the first RA symptom onset and csDMARD initiation. Disease activity was evaluated by: Visual Analogue Scale for pain (VAS), number of tender joints, number of swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and Disease Activity Score28 (DAS28).The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Student's t test, chi (2) test, and Spearman correlation using the SPSS statistical package. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The study included 100 RA patients (86 women and 14 men), with a mean age of 56.5 ± 12.4 years. The mean age at the onset of RA was 47.5 ± 12.4 years. Median D1, D2 and D3 were respectively 12 months [0-242], 15.7 months [2-252] and 18 months [2-270].Methotrextate was prescribed in 86% of cases. At RA diagnosis, the median values for the following parameters were: VAS 80 [30-100], number of tender joints 10[0-28], number of swollen joints 5 [0-17], ESR 43mm/hour [6-133], CRP 14.1 mg/l [1-120], DAS28 (ESR) 5.22 [2-7.52] and DAS28 (CRP) 4.6 [1-6.93]. After one year of follow-up, the median parameters of the disease activity were respectively: VAS 60 [0-100], number of tender joints 6[0-28], number of swollen joints 2 [0-22], ESR 32 mm/hour [2-106], CRP 7.5 mg/l [1.2-94], DAS28 (ESR) 4.1 [1.4-7.1] and DAS28 (CRP) 3.7 [1.68-6.22]. Significant positive correlation was found between delays in csDMARD initiation and DAS28 (CRP) scores over the first year (p=0.02, r=0.29). Conclusion: In this study, delays in treatment were associated with higher DAS28 (CRP) scores after one year of follow-up. Our results suggest that early identification and treatment of RA leads to improved outcomes and even improved rates of drug-free remission. References: [1]Van Nies JA, Krabben A, Schoones JW, et al. What is the evidence for the presence of a therapeutic window of opportunity in rheumatoid arthritis? A systematic literature review. Ann Rheum Dis 2014;73:861–70. Disclosure of Interests: None declared