THU0622-HPR PATIENTS’ SATISFACTIONS TO TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR INHIBITORS FOR MANAGEMENT OF ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS IN KOREA; RESULTS FROM A MULTICENTERED, OBSERVATIONAL, AND CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Authors: S. H. Lee, S. G. Lee, Y. G. Kim, S. H. Lee, Y. J. Kim, J. Y. Jeon, H. J. Yoo, J. Lee, T. H. Kim
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: An experience of particular treatment is one of the characteristics impacting on patients’ decisions to continue, discontinue, or alter their medical treatments. 1 Reports on patients’ treatment satisfaction would be weighty when selecting an optimal treatment reflecting the patient’s perspective. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the treatment satisfaction of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNF-Is) and identify the factors associated with satisfaction in Korea. Methods: The study was conducted from July to November in 2018 at 4 hospitals representative in treating AS in Korea. Patients aged≥19, diagnosed as AS based on ‘Modified New York criteria 1984’, and treated with current TNF-Is and same type of device for≥3 months were included. We used ‘Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire For Medication (TSQM)’ which is consisted of 4 domains; effectiveness, side effects, convenience, and global satisfaction. Scores (0 ~ 100) of satisfaction indicate the higher the better. Multivariable linear regressions with 95% of statistical significance level was performed to identify related factors. Results: Enrolled 497 patients (85.3% male, 40.3 years old) were prevalent with AS for mean 10 years and indicated average 3.1 in Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI). Adalimumab (39.6%) was the most commonly used, followed by etanercept (23.5%), infliximab (21.9%) and golimumab (14.9%). TNF-Is were prescribed at low, regular, and high dose for 24.9%, 70.5% and 4.7% of patients and as subcutaneous with pen type, syringe type, and intravenous injection for 50.9%, 26.8% and 22.3% of patients, respectively. Conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs(cDMARDs) and steroids were concomitantly used for 5.4% and 8.3% of patients, respectively. Average score of TSQM was the lowest in convenience amongst 4 domains; 72.2 in effectiveness, 96.9 in side effects, 67.6 in convenience, and 71.4 in global satisfaction. Negative associations were shown between BASDAI and all domains of TSQM. Patients who prescribed TNF-Is at high dose were more satisfied to effectiveness while they were less satisfied to side-effect, as against patients prescribed it at low dose. TNF-Is, use of cDMARDs and steroids were not significantly associated with treatment satisfaction (Fig. 1). Conclusion: AS patients treated with TNF-Is in Korea were quite satisfied with their treatments. Since the worst satisfaction in the convenience domain was presented amongst 4 domains, more convenient treatment options may be required to enhance the entire satisfaction of patients. With the result of a negative association between disease activity and satisfaction, this study strengthened the previous studies reporting the positive relationship between health improvement and satisfaction. 2 References: [1]Feighner JP: Impact of anxiety therapy on patients’ quality of life. AJM 1987, 82: 14–19. [2]E. Batbaatar et al. Determinants of patient satisfaction, Perspectives in Public Health (2017) 137(2): 89-101 Acknowledgments: Tae-Hwan Kim is the corresponding author. Disclosure of Interests: Sang-Hoon Lee Grant/research support from: This study was sponsored by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited., Seung Geun Lee Grant/research support from: This study was sponsored by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited., Yong-Gil Kim Grant/research support from: This study was sponsored by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited., Soo-Hyun Lee Employee of: I’m an employee of Pfizer pharmaceuticals Korea, Young-Joo Kim Employee of: I’m an employee of Pfizer pharmaceuticals Korea., Ja-Young Jeon Employee of: I’m an employee of Pfizer pharmaceuticals Korea., Hyung-Jeong Yoo Employee of: I’m an employee of Pfizer pharmaceuticals Korea, Juneyoung Lee Grant/research support from: This study was sponsored by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited., Tae-Hwan Kim: None declared