Outcome of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Cross-Sectional Study of a Single-Center Real-World Inception Cohort

Background: Tight control of disease activity is the recommended target of therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objectives: To determine the outcome of RA With respect to disease activity and the rate of remission, as measured by the DAS-28, in a-real-World inception cohort. Methods: We conducted an observational cross-sectional study of a single-center real-world inception cohort of 101 consecutive patients being treated for RA in 2009-2010 in a rheumatology outpatient Clinic. Patients were managed at the discretion of the attending rheumatologist with the goal of achieving remission. DAS-28 scores Were calculated and analyzed by clinical and treatment variables derived from the medical files. Results: Mean patient age was 58.6 +/- 13.4 years and mean duration of disease 10.7 +/- 7.9 years. Disease remission (DAS-28 <2.6) was achieved in 26.7% of patients and low disease activity (>2.6 DAS-28 < 3.2) in 17%. Monotherapy with a conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (C-DMARD; 21% of patients at last follow-up) was associated with a significantly lower mean DAS-28 score and C-reactive protein level than combined C-DMARD treatment (79% of patients), and with shorter disease duration than combined treatment with C-DMARDs or C-DMARD(s)+biological DMARD (40% of patients). Rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide positivity had no effect on DAS-28 scores. Time from diagnosis was inversely correlated with DAS-28 scores. Conclusions: The achievement of low disease activity and remission in a Significant portion of our inception cohort of patients with RA suggests that the treat-to-target strategy is feasible and effective in routine clinical practice.