AB0509 PREVALENCE AND INCIDENCE OF SJÖGREN’S SYNDROME AMONG PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS IN REAL-WORLD COMMUNITY PRACTICE SETTINGS
Authors: Leticia Ferri, Ying Bao, Sonie Lama, Varshini Rajagopalan, Evo Alemao
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

<h3>Background</h3> Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a rheumatic disease that may coexist with RA, and is often considered a common extra-articular manifestation of RA. However, few studies have examined the prevalence and incidence of SS in patients with RA in real-world community practice settings. <h3>Objectives</h3> To estimate the prevalence and incidence of SS in patients with RA, and to summarise the characteristics of patients with SS associated with RA compared with those of patients with RA alone. <h3>Methods</h3> We analysed data from 1 Jan 2014 to 30 Jun 2018 in a large rheumatology database in the USA, which provides electronic medical record data from 120 community-based rheumatology providers. Adult patients with ≥2 RA diagnoses were identified from 1 Jan 2015 to 30 Jun 2018 (index period). The baseline period was from 1 Jan 2014 to 31 Dec 2014. Among patients with RA, we identified patients with ≥2 SS diagnoses in the index period (prevalent SS patients and patients with ≥2 SS diagnoses in the index period who had not been diagnosed with SS in the baseline period [incident SS patients]). Crude and age- and sex-standardised prevalence and incidence of SS were calculated among patients with RA. Characteristics of prevalent SS patients and patients with RA alone (as a control group) were summarised. <h3>Results</h3> A total of 53,156 patients with RA were identified. Among them, we identified 2451 prevalent SS patients and 1450 incident SS patients. The age- and sex-standardised prevalence of SS in patients with RA was 3.48%, and the age- and sex-standardised incidence rate was 0.66 per 100 patient-years. Female patients had a higher prevalence (5.23% vs 1.68%) and incidence (0.96 vs 0.36 per 100 patient-years) of SS than male patients. Compared with other age groups, patients with RA aged 30–49 years had the highest prevalence (3.80%) and incidence (0.77 per 100 patient-years) of SS (Table 1). Compared with patients with RA only, those with both SS and RA were more likely to be female (92% vs 76%), had higher Charlson Comorbidity Index and lower CDAI scores, and were more likely to have prior use of biologic/targeted synthetic DMARDs (30% vs 10%) and conventional DMARDs (48% vs 18%) (Table 2). <h3>Conclusion</h3> This study estimated the prevalence and incidence of SS among patients with RA in real-world community practice settings, and provided insights on clinical characteristics of these patients. Patients with both SS and RA have less joint disease activity and greater DMARD exposure than those with RA only. The findings underscore the complexity of SS secondary to RA and highlight the important role of epidemiological research in understanding this condition. *b/tsDMARDs: abatacept, infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, tocilizumab, rituximab and tofacitinib; cDMARD: MTX, sulfasalazine, azathioprine, tacrolimus, gold thiomalate, leflunomide, aurothioglucose, auranofin, cyclosporine, penicillamine, cyclophosphamide and hydroxychloroquine b=biologic; c=conventional; IQR=interquartile range; RAPID3=Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3; SS=Sjögren's syndrome; ts=targeted synthetic <h3>Acknowledgement</h3> Medical writing: Fiona Boswell, Caudex; funding: Bristol-Myers Squibb <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> Leticia Ferri Shareholder of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ying Bao Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Sonie Lama Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Varshini Rajagopalan Consultant for: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Evo Alemao Shareholder of: Bristol-Myers Squibb, Employee of: Bristol-Myers Squibb