Global assessments of disease activity are age-dependent determinant factors of clinical remission in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to assess the factors associated with clinical remission of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in daily clinical practice.

METHODS

This analysis was based on the data of 304 RA patients in our center between May 2014 and March 2015. The following information was included: tender, swollen, and symptomatic joint counts, patient's and physician's global assessments, functional disability, laboratory and radiographic data, and RA treatments received.

RESULTS

The patients were predominantly female (77.6%), with a median age of 71 years and a median disease duration of 5.8 years. Clinical remission rate, determined using the simplified disease activity index (SDAI), was 49.7%. Patient's and physician's global assessments (/10cm) showed a higher score among patients who did not achieve SDAI remission than among those who did (median: 3.2 versus 0.3, p < 0.0001; and median: 1.8 versus 0.3, p < 0.0001, respectively). The contribution of serum C-reactive protein values (mg/dL) to SDAI was limited (median: 0.19 versus 0.06; p < 0.0001), as well as tender or swollen joint counts (median = 0 or 1). On multivariate analysis of factors not directly related to the disease activity, age was an independent risk factor for non-remission, and global assessment scores by patients and physicians showed an age-dependent increase, while counts of tender, swollen and symptomatic joints were comparable among elderly and non-elderly patients.

CONCLUSION

Global assessment of disease activity was age-dependent and independent of joint counts, and it provides a critical determinant of clinical non-remission.