PsA is a type of inflammatory arthritis linked to psoriasis - a chronic condition affecting the skin and nails. People with PsA experience pain and swelling in their joints, and at the points where tendons and ligaments attach to the bone. MDA is a treatment target used in PsA that takes both clinical manifestations and the patient perspective into account.
Previous studies have shown that achieving MDA in the first year after diagnosis is associated with better quality of life. However, data about the long-term impact of achieving MDA within the first year have been lacking. Now, new information presented at the 2022 EULAR Congress shows that PsA patients with sustained MDA have quality of life comparable to the general population after 1, 2 and 3 years of follow-up. However, those who did not achieve MDA in the first year after diagnosis tended to have lower quality of life compared to those with sustained MDA, and these differences persisted over time.
Overall, the research presented by Dr Selinde Snoeck Henkemans concluded that failure to achieve MDA in the first year after PsA diagnosis is associated with worse quality of life outcomes that persist even despite more intensified treatment.
These insights into the significance of MDA are complemented by another study released at the Congress, looking at findings from UPLIFT – a multinational survey among adults with a diagnosis of PsA and/or psoriasis, as well as treating rheumatologists and dermatologists.
The study – presented by Professor Pascal Richette – found that rheumatologists rated disease remission or low disease activity (LDA) as the most important goals, while patients were focused on decreasing joint pain. Patients and their rheumatologists generally agreed on the top factors contributing to disease severity, treatment goals, and attributes of ideal PsA therapy. However, the majority of patients did not feel aligned with their health care provider on current treatment goals.
These findings suggest that development of methods to discuss treatment goals and achieve alignment in perceptions are important to improving patient outcomes.