Age and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biologic agents

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the relationship between age and quality of life (QOL) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after treatment with biologic agents.

Methods: We recruited 153 patients with RA treated with biologic agents at three hospitals of Showa University from 2005 to 2016 for this retrospective cohort study. Patients were divided into two groups—aged 65 years and older (elderly group) and aged under 65 years (adult group). The primary outcome was the change in QOL over 6 months. We measured QOL using the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-36 (SF-36), the physical component scale (PCS), and the mental component scale (MCS).

Results: There were 94 adult patients (61.4%) and 59 elderly patients (38.5%). Adjusted for sex, disease duration, Disease Activity Score 28 erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28ESR), Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and complications including interstitial lung disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease, there was a significant difference in PCS changes in 6 months between the groups (regression coefficients −7.25; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) −11.7 to −2.77; p = .0018). There was no significant difference in MCS.

Conclusion: Elderly patients with RA may have more difficulty in achieving a satisfactory QOL after treatment with biologic agents.

Keywords:

• Biologic agents
• rheumatoid arthritis
• quality of life

Acknowledgements

Cooperation on data collection: All SHowa University in Rheumatoid Arthritis (ASHURA) group; Takeo Isozaki, Kuninobu Wakabayashi, Sakiko Isojima, Masayu Umemura, Yoko Miura, Sho Ishii, Shinya Seki, Shinichiro Nishimi, Airi Nishimi, Yuzo Ikari, Mika Kobuna, Masahiro Hosonuma, Yoichi Toyoshima, Katsunori Inagaki and Kosuke Sakurai. Data entry and management: Hiroka Mitsuhashi and Yuko Mitamura. We are indebted to Noboru Murata (Kikuna Memorial Hospital) for critically reading the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

Yusuke Miwa received research grants from Astellas Pharma Inc., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, AbbVie CK, Pfizer Japan Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Eizai Co., Ltd, Asahi Kasei Pharm Co., Ltd, YL Biologics Ltd., Japan Blood Products Organization, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., and Teijin Pharma Ltd.

Tsuyoshi Kasama received research grants from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation and AbbVie CK.

The other authors declare that they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.