Efficacy and Safety of Etanercept in Elderly Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Post-Hoc Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background Elderly individuals are disproportionately affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but few studies have addressed the efficacy and safety of treatments in this population. Objective Our objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of etanercept in elderly patients (aged >= 65 years) with RA. Methods The efficacy analysis was a post hoc analysis of data from the open-label period of three phase IV clinical trials of etanercept for RA. Least squares (LS) change from baseline (cfb) in 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI), and modified Total Sharp Scores (mTSS) were analyzed by age (< 65 vs. >= 65 years) for each study. The safety analyses were of data pooled from the double-blind, placebo-controlled periods of 19 phase I-IV randomized studies of etanercept in patients with RA. The percentage occurrence of adverse events (AEs) in placebo- and etanercept-treated patients was analyzed by age (< 65 vs. >= 65 years). Results There were no significant differences in LS mean cfb in DAS28 or mTSS between the two age groups. LS mean cfb in HAQ-DI scores was consistently lower in elderly than in non-elderly patients, although significant differences were not observed in all trials. Overall, AE occurrence was higher in elderly than non-elderly patients, regardless of treatment. In etanercept-treated patients, there were small yet statistically significant increases in the occurrence of congestive heart failure, serious infections, and non-melanoma skin cancers in elderly versus non-elderly patients. For most AEs, occurrence did not significantly differ between elderly and non-elderly patients. Conclusion Overall, there were no substantial differences in the efficacy or safety of etanercept between elderly and non-elderly patients with RA.