FRI0132 Factors influencing satisfaction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab
Authors: M. Fusama, K. Yukioka, T. Seki, T. Kuroiwa, K. Kawamoto, Y. Manabe, Y. Yoshimine, W. Tansuri, S. Kawata, Y. ishida, M. Yaga, S. higa, M. Inoue, C. Yukioka, K. Higashi, T. Kuritani, A. Ogata, K. Maeda, A. Shintani, H. Sano, M. Yukioka, H. Nakahara
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2018)

<h3>Background</h3> Biologics are effective for improving disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, improved disease activity of RA alone does not always lead to high patient satisfaction. <h3>Objectives</h3> We evaluate which factors among items of disease activity and health status are correlated with improvement of patient satisfaction in patients with RA treated with biological agent. <h3>Methods</h3> Patients with RA who were planning to be treated with tocilizumab (TCZ) were enrolled in this study. Satisfaction, disease activity, and health status were assessed at week 0 and week 24 of TCZ therapy. Disease activity was evaluated using SJC, TJC, PGA, EGA and CDAI. Pain was also assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Satisfaction and health status were assessed using the patient satisfaction score and the 5 components of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 (AIMS-2). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the correlation between changes in satisfaction, disease activity and health status adjusted for CDAI at weed 0. Also, Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to evaluate effect of TCZ on satisfaction, disease activity, and health status. <h3>Results</h3> Nineteen patients (male/female: 4/15) were evaluated. Patients' data at baseline were as follows: mean of age (51.3), disease duration (7.6 years), SJC (12.2), TJC (9.6), PGA (47.9 mm), EGA (51.4 mm), CRP (2.9 mg/dl) and CDAI (10.2), respectively. SJC, TJC, PGA, CDAI and RA-pain showed a statistically significant decrease at week 24 compared to the baseline (p&lt;0.001, for each of all items). Out of the 5 components of AIMS-2, "physical", "symptom", "role" and "affect" improved statistically significantly at week 24 compared to the baseline (p&lt;0.0001, p=0.0179, p&lt;0.0005, p=0.0056, respectively), while there was no statistically significant improvement for "social interaction". Patient satisfaction was also statistically significantly higher compared to the baseline (p=0.00038). After adjusting for CDAT at week 0, the change in satisfaction from week 0 to week 24 showed statistically significant correlation with changes in PGA and pain-VAS (all p-values&lt;0.05), but not with changes in TJC, SJC EGA. Regarding health status, the change in patient satisfaction adjusted for CDAI at week 0 was statistically significantly correlated with changes in "symptom" and "affect" (all p-values&lt;0.05). However, there were no statistically significant correlations between change in patient satisfaction and change in "physical", "role", and "social interaction". <h3>Conclusions</h3> Satisfaction was correlated with pain, PGA and psychological state in patients with RA treated with tocilizumab. On the other hand, satisfaction was not correlated with TJC, SJC and EGA. In other words, it appears that patient satisfaction is more closely linked with how symptoms are experienced physically and mentally. Further research into specific factors influencing the patients' experience could shed more light on conditions for improving patients' satisfaction and QOL. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared