AB0179 BEYOND DISEASE ACTIVITY, PAIN, “TIME” AND “TIMING” ACCOUNT FOR DISABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: RESULTS FROM A REAL-LIFE COHORT
Authors: H. Assunção, A. R. Prata, M. Luis, L. Brites, J. Dinis de Freitas, F. Costa, S. Silva, J. A. P. Da Silva, C. Duarte
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suffer from joint pain, stiffness and fatigue and are therefore limited in their physical activities. Since functional disability is a major determinant of quality of life in patients with RA, an optimized approach should focus on the maintenance of functional ability. Objectives: To evaluate self-reported disability in RA patients and to identify its influencing clinical and demographic factors in a real-life cohort of patients with RA. Methods: Cross-sectional study of consecutive patients with RA fulfilling the ACR/EULAR 2010 and/or ACR 1987 RA classification criteria, followed in a Portuguese tertiary care centre. Variables collected included socio-demographic and clinical variables (disease duration; time from symptoms onset to diagnosis, classified as short (≤ 2 years) and long (&gt; 2 years); time of diagnosis, categorised as &lt;2000, 2000-2009, ≥2010); DAS28-CRP-3V and its individual components; pain assessed through visual analogue scale (0-100 mm) and self-perception of anxiety/ depression through EQ5D dimension 5. Disability was assessed through Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score and categorised as none-to-mild (&lt;1) or moderate-to-severe (1-3). Comparison between groups was assessed through chi-square or T-student test, as adequate. Variables with p&lt;0.1 and others clinically relevant in the researcher’s perspective were included in a multivariable logistic regression model. Previously to the analysis, all the assumptions were verified. Given the implementation of new strategies regarding diagnosis and treatment of RA in the last decade, a subgroup analysis was performed for patients with diagnosis performed after 2010). Results: A total of 251 patients were included (78.9% female, aged 62.0±12.1 years, disease duration 16.7±11.2 years), with a mean DAS28-CRP-3V of 2.24 ±0.87, with 65.3% being in remission or low disease activity. The mean HAQ score was 1.2±0.8. Over half of the patients (56.2%) reported moderate-to-severe disability. In the univariate analysis, moderate-to-severe disability was more frequent in female patients (60.6% vs 39.6%, p&lt;0,006), in patients with moderate-to-severe self-perception of anxiety/depressive symptoms (67.2% vs 44.2%, p&lt;0.001) and in patients with diagnosis before the year 2000, 2000-2009 than ≥2010 (71.4% vs 63.1% vs 36.7%; p&lt; 0.001). In addition, patients with moderate-to-severe disability tended to be older (65.05 vs 57.98, p&lt;0,001), to have longer disease duration (20.07 vs 12.39, p &lt;0.001), to report more pain (VAS 58.08 vs 28.62, p&lt;0.001) and to have higher disease activity (2.48 vs 1.95, p=0.001). In the multivariable analysis, pain (OR=1.04; 95%CI 1.03-1.06, p&lt;0.001), disease activity (OR=1.51; 95%CI 1.01-2.26, p=0.049), and time of diagnosis (OR=0.553, 95%CI 0.38 -0.81, p=0.002) remained as independent factors associated with moderate-to-severe disability (R2: 0.40, p&lt;0,001). In the subgroup of patients diagnosed after 2010, a longer time to diagnosis (&gt;2 years) (OR=7.97, 95%CI 1.88-34.06; p=0.005) and pain (OR=1.05, 95%CI 1.03-1.08; p&lt;0,001) remained as independent factors (R2= 0.44, p=&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Functional disability remains a major problem in our patients with RA, despite clinical remission. Beyond non-modifiable factors, disease activity and pain are associated with higher disability. Moreover, in the subgroup of patients diagnosed after 2010 a long time to diagnosis was the major predictor of disability. However, a large variance of the reported functional disability remains unexplained. Hence, other factors should be properly evaluated in our patients in order to achieve a more holistic approach aiming at reducing functional disability. Disclosure of Interests: Helena Assunção: None declared, Ana Rita Prata: None declared, Mariana Luis: None declared, Luisa Brites: None declared, João Dinis de Freitas: None declared, Flavio Costa: None declared, Stefanie Silva: None declared, José Antonio P. da Silva Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Abbvie, Consultant of: Pfizer, AbbVie, Roche, Lilly, Novartis, Catia Duarte: None declared