The study, which was designed to analyse the sensitivity to change of the HAQ in patient groups with different durations of RA, pooled data from clinical trials published between 1980 and 2005 using HAQ as an evaluation measure comparing biologics (drugs derived from living organisms designed to either inhibit or supplement messenger chemicals which play a pivotal role in either fueling or suppressing inflammation), traditional DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, with the potential to reduce or prevent joint damage and preserve joint integrity and function) and placebo.
As functional assessment by the HAQ is a key outcome measure in clinical trials and practice, the research aimed to further investigate the effects of disease duration on its sensitivity to change.
Using a generalized linear model based on the data from the identified trials, HAQ changes (measured as effect sizes) were modeled for patient groups with different durations of RA. The effects of biologics on the HAQ were striking in early RA, but decreased significantly with increasing duration of RA; effect sizes of biologics were significantly different from those of placebo, but this difference decreased with longer RA duration of the patient groups. At about 10 years of average RA duration, the model indicated insufficient discrimination of biologicals from placebo with respect to the HAQ.
"The results of this research suggest HAQ responsiveness is inversely associated with the mean duration of rheumatoid arthritis in clinical trials – perhaps as a result of an irreversible disability component in long-standing RA that makes it difficult to detect a response signal of functional improvement, and to discriminate this signal from responses seen with placebo treatment" concluded Dr. Daniel Aletaha, Department of Rheumatology, Vienna Medical University, Wien, Austria and the study's lead author. "This research indicates that assessment of functional outcomes needs to be interpreted in the context of the study and its population, and is not a priori interchangeable or comparable between studies of RA", he concluded.
For further information on this study, or to request an interview with the study lead, please do not hesitate to contact the EULAR congress press office on:
Email: eularpressoffice@uk.cohnwolfe.com
Jim Baxter - Onsite tel: 44-0-7900-605652
Jo Spadaccino - Onsite tel: 44-0-7773-271930
Mia Gannedahl - Office tel: 44-0-20-7331-2325
6/22/2006
Abstract number: OP0135
About EULAR
- The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) is the organization which represents the patient, health professional and scientific societies of rheumatology of all the European nations.
- The aims of EULAR are to reduce the burden of rheumatic diseases on the individual and society and to improve the treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal diseases. To this end, EULAR fosters excellence in education and research in the field of rheumatology. It promotes the translation of research advances into daily care and fights for the recognition of the needs of people with musculoskeletal diseases by the governing bodies in Europe.
- Diseases of bones and joints, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis cause disability in 4 - 5 % of the adult population and are predicted to rise as people live longer.
- As new treatments emerge and cellular mechanisms are discovered, the 7th Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Amsterdam (EULAR 2006) brings together more than 10,000 experts - scientists, clinicians, healthcare workers, pharmaceutical companies and patients - to share their knowledge in a global endeavour to challenge the pain and disability caused by musculo-skeletal disorders.
- To find out more information about the activities of EULAR, visit: www.eular.org.